Orenburg Launches Budget-Friendly Flights to Almaty, Boosting Regional Ties

Governor Evgeny Solntsev announced a new direct air route between Orenburg and Almaty, Kazakhstan, set to launch by the end of July. The service, supported by regional subsidies, aims to lower ticket prices for passengers.

“We’re expanding flight options from our regional center,” Solntsev said on the Max platform. “We’ve allocated funds from the regional budget to subsidize flights to Kazakhstan. This will cover part of the costs and make tickets more affordable.” The governor noted that the route was proposed during talks with Kazakh counterparts and received backing from Russia’s Ministry of Transport.

Solntsev highlighted Kazakhstan as a key international partner for Orenburg, calling the new air link a step forward in bilateral relations. “Direct flights will strengthen international ties, boost the local economy, expand tourism potential on both sides, and ease pressure on road border crossings,” he explained. This marks the 12th subsidized aviation route from Orenburg, following earlier connections to Abkhazia and several Russian cities. A flight to Minsk is also in the works.