Air Astana operated its first scheduled flights to Salalah (Oman): from Almaty on 23 October and from Astana on 24 October 2026. Kazakhstan's Civil Aviation Committee had earlier announced the routes.
Schedule
— Almaty — Salalah: once a week, on Fridays, from 23 October; — Astana — Salalah: once a week, on Saturdays, from 24 October.
Flights use an Airbus A320. According to the Civil Aviation Committee, the first flight from Astana carried 140 passengers.
Why it matters
The committee said the new routes will support trade, business and tourism cooperation between Kazakhstan and Oman. Salalah is a resort city on the Arabian Sea coast.
Context
Air links between Kazakhstan and Oman are not new: SalamAir operates Almaty — Muscat. Air Astana is the first to connect Kazakhstan with Salalah.
What has not been announced
The full seasonal schedule, the operating period and fares were not named in the reports. The load on the first flight does not mean the average load.
Our assessment: once a week from each city is a trial format for a seasonal destination, and its durability will show in sales over the coming weeks. This is flycentralasia's conclusion, not a statement by Air Astana.
What businesses can do. Tour operators and DMCs can assess Salalah programmes with two departures a week in mind: Friday from Almaty and Saturday from Astana. Hotel and ground operators in Oman can prepare offers for the Kazakh market. Regional airlines can watch load factors to gauge the potential of Arabian Sea resort destinations.