New aviation deals raise flight limits between China and Central Asia
Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan agreed to higher weekly flight limits with Beijing, while a separate agreement allows more services between Tashkent, Almaty and Astana. Airlines are also exploring new regional routes, although rising operating costs remain a concern.
China and Central Asian nations have agreed to lift flight restrictions, allowing for more weekly flights between their countries and to China. During the third Central Asia–China (C5+1) Working Group on Civil Aviation Cooperation meeting in Tashkent, Uzbekistan and China increased the limit on weekly flights from 100 to 114. Kazakhstan, meanwhile, raised its permitted weekly frequencies from 150 to 180, with the addition of Chengdu and Kashgar as destinations.
These agreements bolster the Air Silk Road initiative, which seeks to expand new routes and simplify cross-border airline operations. Uzbekistan aims to allow Chinese and neighboring Central Asian travelers to change planes at its airports en route to Europe. Kyrgyzstan has similarly signed a memorandum with China under the initiative.
In 2025, Kyrgyzstan and China inaugurated a new air corridor, with Chengdu Airlines launching a weekly direct service between Kashgar in western China and Osh, Kyrgyzstan's second-largest city, using a Chinese-made C909 aircraft. Kazakhstan's airlines aspire to serve more Chinese cities beyond major hubs like Beijing and Shanghai, according to a Civil Aviation Committee official.
The Tashkent meeting also saw agreements on flights between Central Asian nations. Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan agreed to increase weekly flights between Tashkent and Almaty and Astana from 42 to 60, with other routes seeing an increase from 14 to 20 flights a week. These changes aim to accommodate growing demand for travel between the Central Asian countries.
However, airlines face concerns over rising operating costs due to high fuel prices and airport charges. Vietjet Qazaqstan, for instance, launched direct flights from Astana to Bishkek and Samarkand in November 2025, with plans to increase frequencies. The airline's CEO highlighted Bukhara and Samarkand's significant tourism potential but stressed the need for closer cooperation between aviation authorities and airlines to make cross-border travel more affordable.
Passenger demand, particularly for smaller cities, also hinges on sufficient traffic and economic activity.
Written by urgent.news from Euronews's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
