Kazakhstan’s government has expanded its open skies policy to include the airport in Oral, the regional hub of West Kazakhstan. The Civil Aviation Committee of the Ministry of Transport announced that Oral Airport has become the 15th in the country to be granted this status, a move expected to boost international air connectivity.

Under the open skies regime, all limitations on the number of flights to Oral by foreign airlines are lifted. Additionally, foreign carriers can now exercise the fifth freedom of the air, enabling them to make stops in Oral en route to third-country destinations.

This development is part of a broader effort to enhance the airport’s international reach and improve competition in the aviation market. The Civil Aviation Committee noted that the policy is expected to attract more international carriers, open up new flight routes, reduce airfares, promote tourism, and strengthen Oral’s accessibility as a transportation hub.

Currently, Oral Airport operates mainly with local airlines. Air Astana offers flights to cities like Aktau, Astana, Almaty, Frankfurt, and Sharm El Sheikh. SCAT Airlines also operates flights to destinations such as Turkistan and Phuket, in addition to sharing the Sharm El Sheikh route. Qazaq Air provides a key link between Oral and Atyrau.

With an annual passenger traffic exceeding 300,000, Oral Airport has ambitious plans for growth. Since 2023, Russia’s Airports of Regions company has held a minority stake in the airport, and together with Kazakh partners, it aims to transform Oral into a regional hub for both passenger and cargo operations.

In addition to Oral, the open skies regime is already active at airports in major cities including Astana, Almaty, and Shymkent, as well as at other regional hubs such as Aktau, Karaganda, and Turkistan, fostering greater international connectivity across Kazakhstan.