A new air route was launched between Urumqi and Aktau — the first direct flight to the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea.
On Saturday, a new air route was launched between Urumqi and Aktau — the first direct flight to the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea. Air routes are not just lines on a map. They are threads that bind economies, cultures and people's destinies. When a plane from China's Urumqi lands for the first time in Kazakhstan's Aktau, it does not just cover thousands of kilometres. It opens new opportunities for business, tourism and friendship between nations. The Caspian Sea, for centuries a crossroads of civilisations, is now becoming even closer to China. And every flight is a step towards closer neighbourly ties.
Two weekly round‑trip flights are planned, providing passengers with a more convenient travel option and contributing to the growth of economic and people‑to‑people exchanges between China and Kazakhstan. With the launch of the new route, Urumqi now operates 12 regular international passenger routes connecting the city with five Central Asian countries, further strengthening regional connectivity and cooperation.
Aktau is a Kazakh port city on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea and a major transport hub. Urumqi is the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and a key logistics centre in western China. Previously, there was no direct air link between the two cities, and passengers had to travel with layovers. The new route is part of China's strategy to expand air connectivity with Central Asian countries under the Belt and Road Initiative. Two flights a week are a start that could grow into more frequent services as demand rises.
As reported by CCTV+, the launch of the route marks an important step in strengthening the transport network between China and Kazakhstan, opening new horizons for regional cooperation.
