Budget carrier FlyArystan to launch direct Almaty–Urgench flights from September

FlyArystan, the low-cost subsidiary of Kazakhstan’s Air Astana group, will launch direct scheduled flights between Almaty and Urgench from 3 September 2026. The service operates twice weekly — on Thursdays and Sundays — aboard Airbus A320 aircraft, according to aviation route tracker AeroRoutes and UzDaily.uz. Tickets are already on sale for flights through October 2026.

Urgench is the main gateway to Khiva, one of the Silk Road’s best-preserved historic cities. Its walled inner town, Itchan Kala, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Uzbekistan’s most captivating destinations. Until now, travellers arriving from Almaty had to connect through Tashkent; the new nonstop link cuts journey time significantly and makes the region more affordable and convenient for visitors from Kazakhstan and beyond.

The launch comes as the Khorezm region attracts growing tourist interest. FlyArystan and the Uzbek hospitality group Arda Khiva are reportedly developing bundled travel packages combining airfare, transfers, accommodation and guided excursions in Khiva — a move that should open the historic city to a wider range of independent travellers arriving from across the region.