Air India and Air Astana Sign a New Codeshare Deal to Boost India–Kazakhstan Connectivity for Tourists and Business Travelers

Air India, India’s premier international airline, and Air Astana, Kazakhstan’s national carrier, have entered into a codeshare agreement aimed at strengthening air travel for Passengers of Air India and Air Astana. The new partnership will see both carriers offering more convenient flight schedules and enhancing connection opportunities for travelers between India and Kazakhstan.

Under this arrangement, Air India will place its ‘AI’ designator code on Air Astana’s flights operating between Almaty and Delhi, as well as Almaty and Mumbai. This enables Air India customers to conveniently access Almaty, a growing hub for tourism and business in Central Asia, on a single ticket with a seamless check-in process.

Improved Connectivity and Convenient Travel Options

The new codeshare agreement means that Air India passengers traveling from India to Kazakhstan will be able to travel on a single ticket and check-in their baggage through to Almaty from cities beyond Delhi and Mumbai. This offers a streamlined experience for travelers, making connections between India and Kazakhstan more convenient and efficient.

Campbell Wilson, the CEO & Managing Director of Air India, expressed enthusiasm about the agreement, saying, “Our new codeshare partnership with Air Astana creates stronger air links to Kazakhstan, a fast-growing market with immense potential for tourism. Beyond leisure travel, this partnership will support trade and cultural exchanges between our two countries.”

A Strategic Move to Foster Trade and Tourism Growth

The codeshare partnership also aims to foster trade and cultural exchanges between India and Kazakhstan, which have witnessed growing bilateral ties in recent years. Peter Foster, CEO of the Air Astana Group, praised the new agreement, calling Air India an “exceptionally well-managed business” and highlighting India’s importance as one of the fastest-growing travel markets globally.

Foster also noted that India is a key strategic market for Air Astana, as the airline continues to increase flights from Kazakhstan to Delhi, Mumbai, and Goa. The codeshare agreement will help accelerate the growth of tourism, business, and student traffic between the two countries, while also expanding Air Astana’s network.

Expanding Network Access for Both Airlines’ Passengers

In addition to this new codeshare agreement, the partnership builds upon the existing interline agreement between Air India and Air Astana, which has been in place since earlier in 2025. Under this interline agreement, Air India passengers already have convenient connections to destinations across Central Asia and China, including Astana (Kazakhstan), Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), Tashkent (Uzbekistan), Dushanbe (Tajikistan), and Urumqi (China) via Almaty.

Conversely, Air Astana passengers enjoy access to 18 destinations within Air India’s domestic network, as well as 9 international destinations through Delhi and Mumbai. The codeshare agreement enhances this by offering passengers even more travel choices and an easier booking process, consolidating both airlines’ networks and making it more convenient for travelers to explore both countries and beyond.

Boosting Inbound Tourism Between India and Kazakhstan

The codeshare agreement is also expected to boost tourism between India and Kazakhstan, as more travelers from both nations will have greater access to each other’s destinations. The tourism sector in both countries will benefit from enhanced connectivity, making it easier for tourists to visit Kazakhstan’s cultural sites or India’s famous attractions, while also encouraging increased business and academic exchanges.

Kazakhstan, known for its vast landscapes, cultural richness, and modern cities, is increasingly becoming an attractive destination for tourists seeking both adventure and luxury travel. Likewise, India’s rich cultural heritage, historical sites, and modern amenities are likely to draw more Kazakhstani travelers in the future.

Future Expansion of Air Services

Both airlines have expressed an interest in further expanding air services between India and Kazakhstan in the future. Air India is committed to helping Kazakhstani carriers and expanding the network of flights between the two countries. Air Astana has also expressed a strong desire to increase the frequency of flights between Kazakhstan and India, as part of a growing tourism and business exchange between the two nations.

With India’s growing outbound travel market and Kazakhstan’s booming tourism and business sectors, this partnership is expected to serve as a catalyst for increased connectivity, tourism growth, and trade development between the two countries, reinforcing bilateral ties in multiple sectors.

Convenient Booking and Expanded Access for Passengers

The codeshare flights will soon be available for sale across Air India’s booking channels, including their official website, mobile app, and through travel agents worldwide. Passengers will be able to enjoy seamless travel across both networks, benefiting from easy connections and simplified booking processes.

The expansion of the codeshare agreement will also make travel between India and Kazakhstan more accessible and affordable, encouraging more tourism, business travel, and cultural exchanges in the coming years.

Strengthening Ties Between India and Kazakhstan Through Air Connectivity

The new codeshare agreement between Air India and Air Astana will further reinforce bilateral business and tourism ties between Kazakhstan and India. The increased cooperation will facilitate higher connectivity between the two nations, giving tourists more choice to visit both countries and stimulate economic growth. With enhanced air connectivity, Kazakhstan and India are already on course to become key tourism partners, promoting not only more travel but also enhanced cultural and economic ties.