SCAT launches Nur-Sultan-Xi’an flights
SCAT, one of the major airlines in Kazakhstan, has launched regular flights en route from Nur-Sultan (Kazakhstan) to Xi'an (China). The flights are due to be operated on Boeing-737 aircraft, Strategy2050.kz correspondent reports.
The first 5-hour flight took place on 30 December 2019. The flights will run twice weekly on Monday and Friday, with docking with Kazakh cities for transit passengers.
The one-way ticket will cost over 70,000 tenge ($183).
“Despite the duration the flight is expected to be comfortable thanks to the aircraft,” Daulet Khamzin, Director of the SCAT Ground Maintenance Complex, says.
The launch of Nur-Sultan-Xi’an flights is believed to become a spur for Kazakh-Chinese relations, for tourist groups and business persons to plan carefully without wasting time.
China’s Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador, Zhang Xiao, addressing the audience, has underscored the importance of the newly-launched air communication between the Kazakh capital and Xi’an, one of the four historically capitals of China.
“It is a New Year surprise to those flying between the two cities,” the Chinese ambassador has said.
According to him, the event is also pertinent to the bilateral relation as it marks the opening of the new air path connecting the two countries.
The new Nur-Sultan-Xi’an flight adds to the established Nur-Sultan-Beijing, Almaty-Beijing, Urumqi-Almaty flights.
Xi’an is closely connected with Kazakhstan in terms economic, cultural and humanitarian projects, with Kazakhstan housing some private and state enterprises from Xi’an, while several thousand Kazakh students are studying in the Chinese city.
“I believe there is demand for the flight as Xi’an is historically rich with many sites. It is also Chinese Chairman Xi Jinping’s homeland,” the ambassador has said.
According to him, Kazakhstan is on track to achieve its full transit potential.
According to Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport’s spokesperson Luydmila Kapichuk, it is enhanced air transportation that contributes to the development of airports and great passenger flow.
With over 5 million passengers in last year Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport boasts its ever highest passenger flow, that made possible thanks to the new routes opened.
Almaty-Xi’an flights are expected to be re-launched in February 2020 after the two-year suspension.
Being among major airlines in Kazakhstan, SCAT occupies its fair share in domestic flights with an overall experience of over 22 years. The company runs 50 flights within the country and as many as 25 international flights, opening every year up to 10 new flights and scaling up frequencies. Its fleet includes U.S. and Canadian aircraft, including CRJ-200, Boeing 737/757/767.
2018 saw SCAT joining the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Author: Adlet Seilkhanov
