Kazakhstan's flag carrier Air Astana will launch services to Ukraine and Russia.

The airline will operate thrice weekly flights from Almaty and Astana to Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, starting 31 March and 1 April respectively.

Air Astana will deploy Airbus A320 aircraft on the Almaty-Kiev route and Embraer 190 aircraft on the Astana-Kiev route.

In addition, the airline will add two more destinations to Russia in April.

The carrier will launch thrice weekly services on the Atyrau-Moscow and Astana-Orenburg routes on 1 April and 16 April respectively.

Air Astana will operate both routes using E-190 aircraft.

According to Innovata schedules, Air Astana will compete with Ukraine International Airlines on the Ukrainian routes, and Transaero Airlines on the Atyrau-Moscow route. Air Astana will be the sole operator for flights between Astana and Orenburg.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news