French Ambassador to Kazakhstan Sylvain Guiogue said the sides are considering restoring direct air service between the two countries. According to him, good news could come in 2027. There is no confirmed plan yet, and no timelines or dates have been named. The statement was made on 22 October 2026.
What the ambassador said
The ambassador noted that interest in resuming flights is growing among businesses and tourists. He named two reasons. The first is economic ties: France remains a major investor in Kazakhstan and French companies are expanding their presence on the local market. The second is tourist flow: the number of Schengen visa applications from Kazakhstan for travel to France is rising year on year.
Who decides
The decision to launch a route rests with airlines, not governments. Carriers assess commercial viability themselves. The ambassador also noted that airlines are reviewing their route networks in view of the geopolitical situation. Contacts between the sides on the issue exist, but no decision on opening a flight has been made.
What came before
Air Astana previously operated direct flights between the countries. They ended after the COVID-19 pandemic. Reasons cited included the pandemic and insufficient aircraft loads.
In February 2025 the then Minister of Transport, Marat Karabayev, and Sylvain Guiogue discussed resuming Astana–Paris service. The Kazakh side proposed that French airlines use the "open skies" regime to launch regular flights. No airline or timeline was named.
Later the Kazakh government set priorities for new destinations: according to media reports, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov instructed the Ministry of Transport, together with Air Astana, to open flights from Astana to Tokyo and New York by the end of 2026, and to European capitals including Paris in 2027. That instruction is not the same as an airline decision to launch a route.
What has not been announced
The carrier, airports, start date, frequency, aircraft type and traffic rights have not been named. It has not been announced whether the flight would be operated by Air Astana or a French company.
Our assessment: the ambassador's statement is a public signal of French interest, not a flight announcement. Until a carrier decides, the route cannot be considered launched. Two signs matter for the market: a named carrier and an agreement on traffic rights. This is flycentralasia's conclusion, not a statement by the French embassy or Air Astana.
What businesses can do. Tour operators and agencies can quantify demand for France (growing Schengen applications) and prepare proposals for a launch. Astana and Almaty airports can track requests from European carriers. French companies in Kazakhstan can estimate their business-travel volume in advance: it is an argument for a carrier.