Cyprus will launch direct flights to Kazakhstan in June 2026, marking the island’s first air link with a Central Asian country as it expands beyond traditional European markets.
Air Astana will operate four weekly flights connecting Larnaca with Kazakhstan’s capital Astana and its largest city Almaty, the Deputy Tourism Ministry announced yesterday.
Services start in early June with twice-weekly flights from Astana on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and from Almaty on Thursdays and Sundays.
The move follows Cyprus’s loss of the Russian market, which held second place in arrivals before the Ukraine war, prompting authorities to target Central European and Asian destinations. Poland delivered impressive results and now ranks as the third-largest source market, according to the deputy ministry.
Deputy Tourism Minister Kostas Koumi described the Kazakhstan connection as a clear success. “Kazakhstan is not simply a new market, it is the largest economy in Central Asia and we believe it can become a good market for our tourism over time,” he said.
Cyprus has prioritised Germany, Europe’s largest economy and a major global tourist market, with efforts already driving significant increases in arrivals. Romania and Austria are also considered promising markets.
Israel emerged as a key market for Cyprus and held second place in 2025 arrivals. Saudi Arabia opened earlier with the launch of direct flights.
Kazakhstan represents one of the most important economies in Central Asia, the deputy ministry said.