Starting in June 2025, regional travel between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan will get a major boost with the launch of direct flights between Almaty and Issyk-Kul. Operated by Kyrgyz Asman Airlines and Fly Arystan, these new routes will run four times a week and significantly reduce travel time from 7–8 hours by road to just 75–80 minutes by air. 

Kyrgyz Asman began flights on June 27, operating on Mondays and Fridays, while Fly Arystan will launch service on July 3, flying on Thursdays and Sundays. This development is expected to enhance tourism around Issyk-Kul, Central Asia’s popular summer destination known for its pristine lake, mountains, and resorts, by making it more accessible for weekend travellers and vacationers from Almaty. 

This new connection also impacts tourists from further away as Central Asian Guided Tours can now use this new shortcut between Almaty and Issyk Kul to save time for the actual sights rather than spending most of the time in car and also cut some of the costs if considered against a private car with a driver.