Air Astana has marked a major milestone in its India journey with the launch of a new direct service between Almaty and Mumbai, commemorating 20 years since it first entered the Indian market. The new route officially commenced on April 20, 2025, and will operate three times a week, strengthening air connectivity between Kazakhstan’s commercial hub and India’s financial capital.
At a celebratory evening reception in Mumbai, the event beautifully showcased Kazakhstan’s rich cultural heritage with captivating traditional performances that enthralled the audience. Adding to the evening’s excitement, a lucky draw saw one fortunate guest win a complimentary round-trip Business Class ticket between Mumbai and Almaty. The event, filled with celebration, culture, and camaraderie, was thoroughly enjoyed by all in attendance.
Peter Foster, President and CEO of Air Astana Group, said, “With the Indian economy growing strongly, Air Astana is delighted to launch services to Mumbai, a vibrant and flourishing metropolis driven by trade, finance and enterprise. Business and leisure travellers will now be able to experience the excellence of Air Astana’s in-services when flying between Kazakhstan and India’s most commercial cities.”
The new Almaty-Mumbai service is scheduled as follows:
- Almaty to Mumbai: Wednesdays at 09:05, Thursdays at 20:20, Sundays at 04:35
- Mumbai to Almaty: Wednesdays at 15:25, Fridays at 02:40, Sundays at 11:00
Fares for return travel start at INR 89,682 for Business Class and INR 31,685 for Economy. The flight duration is approximately 4 hours and 20 minutes.
This new route complements Air Astana’s long-standing Almaty–Delhi service, which launched in 2004 and currently operates up to 11 flights per week during summer and nine during winter. In 2024 alone, the airline carried over 131,000 passengers between Delhi and Almaty, with 79 per cent of them being Indian citizens.
Air Astana’s Mumbai launch comes at a time when demand from Indian travellers to Central Asia is surging. The route is expected to serve a wide range of passenger profiles including families, students (especially medical aspirants in CIS countries), MICE groups, wedding travellers, and corporate clients. Indian citizens benefit from visa-free entry to Kazakhstan, making the destination even more attractive.
Mumbai’s strategic location and connectivity with major Indian cities such as Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Surat, and Kolkata make it an ideal departure point for travellers across India. Furthermore, the Mumbai-Almaty route opens up connections to popular onward destinations like Bishkek, Tashkent, Baku, Tbilisi, Frankfurt, and London.
Also read: Air Astana’s direct Almaty-Mumbai flights to enhance connectivity and growth
Air Astana operates a modern fleet of 60 aircraft and is the leading airline group in Central Asia and the Caucasus. It offers both Business and Economy class services, with complimentary onboard meals, beverages, and an extensive in-flight entertainment system. The airline has been recognised globally for its service excellence with awards from Skytrax, APEX, Onboard Hospitality, Travel Plus and others.
Premium passengers departing from Almaty can also enjoy The Shanyraq Lounge, a cultural and contemporary pre-flight retreat inspired by the symbolic Kazakh “shanyraq”. Located just past security, it’s accessible to Business Class passengers and Nomad Club elite members.
With this new connection, Air Astana reaffirms its commitment to expanding ties between India and Kazakhstan, offering travellers new opportunities to explore, connect, and engage across borders.
