Air Astana seems to be emerging from the shadows of COVID-19 pretty swiftly and is fast bringing back flights previously suspended due to the pandemic. One such flight is to the capital of India – New Delhi. The flight will connect Delhi with Almaty three times a week and will start next month. Let’s find out more.

Almaty to New Delhi

Those looking for a direct connection between India and Kazakhstan will not have to wait for long as Air Astana will resume flights between Almaty and New Delhi from December 16th. The service will be offered on an Airbus A320 aircraft thrice a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

The flight duration will be around 3 hours and 50 minutes in each direction and will operate to the following schedule (all times local):

Almaty to New Delhi

Departure: 07:50

Arrival: 11:10

New Delhi to Almaty

Departure: 12:20

Arrival: 16:40

A return fare in economy on this flight starts at US$544 and for business class at US$1050.

Air Astana had also announced a second service to India – Mumbai – just a little before COVID-induced lockdown. As reported by Simple Flying last year, Air Astana had planned to start flights between Almaty and Mumbai four times a week beginning June 1st, 2020, the peak of the summer season. Unfortunately, the plan suffered due to the suspension of international flights from India because of the pandemic.

Air Astana, Domestic Demand, COVID-19
The repatriation flights used aircraft from the Airbus A320neo family. Photo: Getty Images

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Requirements

As is the norm while crossing borders these days, this service, too, comes with certain requirements. All passengers, including children flying into New Delhi, will have to fill out an online form that the Indian government mandates for all international arriving passengers.

Anyone over five years of age will need to upload results of a COVID PCR test with a negative result obtained within 72 hours before arrival. Before boarding on departure and again after arrival, passengers will have to go through a thermometric test procedure.

Those who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated will need to take a COVID-19 test on arrival and repeat it at the end of a seven-day home quarantine period. Fully vaccinated passengers are exempted from PCR test on arrival and home quarantine.

Air Astana E190-E2
The Embraer E190-E2 will fly to Bishkek twice weekly initially, increasing the frequency to four in December. Photo: Getty Images

Bouncing back

Kazakhstan’s flag carrier has been in recovery mode, reviving many routes in the last couple of months. The airline is keen to expand its network swiftly, from adding London back to its schedule in September using its latest Airbus A321LR to flying to holiday destinations such as Male (Maldives) and Phuket. A little over two weeks ago, Simple Flying also reported on the carrier returning to Bishkek using its Embraer E190-E2 aircraft.

The airline’s narrowbody fleet is made up of the Airbus A320 family of airplanes and the Embraer E190 aircraft. It also operates the world’s three youngest passenger Boeing 767 aircraft and has an outstanding order of three Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners scheduled for delivery from 2025.

Are you scheduled to fly between India and Kazakhstan anytime soon? What are your thoughts on Air Astana’s route expansion strategy? Do share your comments.