On 15 September, the chairman of Kazakhstan's Civil Aviation Committee met with representatives of Turkish carrier SunExpress, Kazinform reports.
The airline plans to launch regular flights on a new Izmir–Astana route, operating twice weekly — Wednesdays and Saturdays — on Boeing 737 aircraft.
Additionally, from 25 October 2026, SunExpress will increase frequency on its existing Almaty–Izmir route from 2 to 3 flights per week.
SunExpress entered the Kazakh market on 31 July 2026 with direct service between Almaty and Izmir. With the Astana launch, Izmir becomes the Turkish carrier's second Kazakh gateway city.
A specific launch date, fares, and exact schedule for the Astana route have not been disclosed in open sources at time of publication — this remains a stated plan announced at a regulatory meeting, not a confirmed schedule.