[Aviation News] Cathay Pacific has announced plans to launch a new direct service between Hong Kong and Almaty, Kazakhstan, in the first quarter of 2027. The route is scheduled to be operated three times weekly using Airbus A330-300 wide-body aircraft and will become the only nonstop air service currently connecting Hong Kong and Kazakhstan.
The Almaty route will mark Cathay Pacific’s first destination in Central Asia. In recent years, the Cathay Group has continued to strengthen Hong Kong’s air connectivity with countries and regions participating in the Belt and Road Initiative. The airline previously launched direct services between Hong Kong and Urumqi, laying the groundwork for further expansion into Belt and Road markets.
Kazakhstan is the largest economy in Central Asia and Hong Kong’s largest trading partner and export market in the region. Driven by growing trade, investment, and Belt and Road cooperation, demand for travel and business exchanges between China and Central Asia has continued to rise in recent years. As Kazakhstan’s largest city and a major economic hub, Almaty serves as an important gateway for business, culture, and tourism.
Currently, Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong Express operate nearly 600 weekly round-trip flights to and from 33 Belt and Road destinations. The Group also provides more than 330 weekly round-trip flights between Hong Kong and 24 destinations across Mainland China.
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