Kazakhstan's winter travellers will gain a direct flight from the capital this season. Air Astana plans to start flying from Astana to Bangkok on 11 December 2026, twice a week with an Airbus A321LR, according to Kazakhstan's Ministry of Transport. The ministry says this brings direct flights between Kazakhstan and Thailand to 20 a week on four routes. Our Thailand team covers the routes, the entry rule and the product in its briefing on the Kazakhstan market. Here we look at what the new route means for the way an agent builds and sells a package.
The Four Routes at a Glance
- Almaty to Phuket. Seven flights a week with Air Astana.
- Almaty to Bangkok. Nine flights a week, six with Air Astana and three with Thai AirAsia X.
- Shymkent to Bangkok. Two flights a week with SCAT.
- Astana to Bangkok. New from 11 December 2026, two flights a week with Air Astana.
These are the ministry's figures. Thai AirAsia's own high-season plan lists Almaty at four flights a week, not three, so quote from the airline's schedule for your dates and reconfirm before you ticket a group.
Build the Package Around the Flight Days
A route that flies twice a week shapes the product more than a daily one does. Clients from Astana can only arrive and leave on the operating days, so most packages will run as stays of 7, 10 or 14 nights that start and end on those days. Plan arrivals and departures in pairs, hold rooms for the matching nights, and check the operating days for your travel dates before you sell a fixed-length package.
Until now, clients in the capital and the north of the country have had to connect through Almaty or a third country. A direct flight removes that connection, which makes a short winter break easier to sell.
What Kazakh Clients Book
Beach weeks are the core product. Phuket comes first, then Krabi and Khao Lak on the Andaman coast, and two or three nights in Bangkok often open or close the trip. Russian is widely spoken in Kazakhstan, so Russian-speaking guides are usually the practical choice. Kazakh citizens can stay in Thailand without a visa for up to 30 days per visit, with a limit of 90 days in any 180-day period, which covers a two-week winter holiday.
Selling Points for the Agent
- Hold New Year early. The new route starts in December, at the beginning of the cool season, and the New Year weeks fill first.
- Plan for changing times. On a new route, flight times can still move. A ground team that meets every arrival and can re-plan the first night protects the client.
- Watch the alternatives. Air Astana is also adding Almaty to Langkawi in Malaysia from 25 December, three times a week, so a fast and clear Thailand quote matters.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Astana to Bangkok route start?
On 11 December 2026, twice a week with an Airbus A321LR, according to Kazakhstan's Ministry of Transport. Reconfirm the operating days with the airline before you ticket.
Do Kazakh travellers need a visa for Thailand?
Not for stays of up to 30 days per visit, with a limit of 90 days in any 180-day period. Longer stays need a visa.
How long should a package from Astana be?
Usually 7, 10 or 14 nights, timed to the two weekly flight days, so the client arrives and leaves on an operating day.
Where Explera Fits
We plan the ground for Kazakh and other Central Asian clients in Thailand: airport meetings at any hour, Russian-speaking guides, hotels and transfers, with the same desk for our other destinations.
Write to b2b@expleradmc.com or message +66 93 656 8090 on WhatsApp. Explera DMC is IATA TIDS-registered (96215733) and an ASTA member (900408341). Explera Thailand holds TAT licence No. 14/05119.
