A delegation from East Kazakhstan Region has proposed opening direct air service between Ust-Kamenogorsk and Bishkek. The proposal was made at the 2nd Interregional Cooperation Forum in the Kyrgyz capital, attended by Kazakhstan's Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov.
The initiative came from the region's deputy governor, Renat Kurmambayev. He said the two sides could jointly consider options for organising direct flights. He also proposed exchanging experience in training specialists, improving the quality of tourism services and developing rural and eco-tourism. Air service was also discussed in talks with the president's representative in Kyrgyzstan's Issyk-Kul Region, Bakytbek Zhetigenov.
A memorandum of cooperation has been signed between East Kazakhstan and Issyk-Kul regions. It provides for student and teacher exchanges, development and implementation of joint investment projects, support for enterprises taking part in programmes, and exhibitions and commercial fairs in the economy, agriculture, culture and tourism.
At present there are no direct flights between Ust-Kamenogorsk and Bishkek in the schedules: travellers have to connect, for example via Almaty.
The proposal comes against the background of growing ties between the two countries and renewal of Ust-Kamenogorsk airport. Since 1 October Vietjet Qazaqstan has operated Astana–Bishkek flights daily: https://www.flycentralasia.com/news/en/kazakhstan-kyrgyzstan-daily-air-link/
Ust-Kamenogorsk also plans to reconstruct its airport: modernising the terminal, extending the runway and installing low-visibility equipment: https://www.flycentralasia.com/news/en/east-kazakhstan-regional-capital-airport-upgrade-plan/
An example of an agreement between a region and a carrier in the country is FlyArystan's memorandum with the authorities of Zhetisu region, under which routes from Taldykorgan are being studied: https://www.flycentralasia.com/news/en/kazakhstan-low-cost-airline-zhetysu-region-route-agreement/
Our assessment: this is a proposal by a regional delegation, not a carrier decision and not an agreed route. A launch would need a carrier, a schedule and a demand assessment. The memorandum between the regions provides context for that: tourist flows, business contacts and meetings of entrepreneurs. For airlines assessing regional routes, and for the airports of both countries, the proposal is a reason to study demand. This is the view of flycentralasia.