Air Astana expands flights to Azerbaijan

Air Astana will launch direct flights from Atyrau in western Kazakhstan to Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan on 31 May 2025. The new service will be operated three times a week using Airbus A320/A321 aircraft, with a flight time of 1 hour 25 minutes outbound and 1 hour 35 minutes return. Flight KC277 will depart from Atyrau on Mondays and Saturdays at 18:30, arriving in Baku at 18:55, and on Wednesdays at 21:35, arriving at 22:00. The return flight KC278 from Baku to Atyrau will operate on Mondays and Saturdays, departing at 19:55 and arriving at 22:30, and on Wednesdays, departing at 23:00 and arriving at 01:35 the next day. All times local. The new route from Atyrau to Baku will complement the airline’s existing flights from Almaty to Baku, which operate three times a week during the summer season. The network expansion will open up more opportunities for leisure and business trips between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. Air Astana Group is the largest airline group in Central Asia and the Caucasus regions by revenue and fleet size. The Group operates a fleet of 60 aircraft split between Air Astana, its full-service airline that operated its inaugural flight in 2002, and FlyArystan, its low-cost airline established in 2019. The Group provides scheduled, point-to-point and transit, short-haul and long-haul air travel and cargo on domestic, regional and international routes across Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Far East, the Middle East, India and Europe. Air India Express adds domestic flights, international services Expanding its footprint in Goa, Air India Express has launched operations from Manohar International Airport (GOX) in North Goa, complementing its existing services at Goa International Airport (GOI). With operations now from both airports, the airline will operate over 115 weekly flights from Goa—including 75 from GOI and over 40 from GOX—offering travellers enhanced flexibility and improved access to North Goa, renowned for its pristine beaches, vibrant nightlife, bustling markets, and rich cultural heritage. Effective April 15, 2025, Air India Express launched new services connecting North Goa with Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, and Indore, further strengthening domestic connectivity to the region. The airline now operates twice-daily flights to Delhi, daily flights to Bengaluru and Indore, and flights to Chennai on all days except Wednesdays. Services on the Hyderabad–North Goa route will commence on May 3, 2025. Expanding its international footprint from North Goa, Air India Express will also launch direct flights to Kuwait starting May 3, followed by services to Abu Dhabi from May 5, 2025. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Kay Rolland at [email protected]