Etihad Airways will launch flights to Almaty in Kazakhstan from its Abu Dhabi home base on December 2.

Kazakhstan’s largest city, with a population of 1.2 million people, will be served non-stop, four times a week from Abu Dhabi, using an Airbus A319 aircraft.

Flight EY296 will depart Abu Dhabi on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 10.20 am and arrive in Almaty at 4.35 pm the same day. Return flight EY297 will depart Almaty on the same days at 5.35 pm, arriving in Abu Dhabi at 8.30 pm.

The announcement follows a visit last week to Kazakhstan by Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, aimed at boosting bilateral cooperation between the two nations.

Since gaining independence in October 1990, Kazakhstan has benefited from major foreign investment, particularly in the oil and gas sector which has brought rapid economic growth to the country.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ chief executive, said: “With its vast oil and gas fields, Kazakhstan is sitting on some of the richest mineral resources in the world. Despite its enormous economic potential, this is a market however which at present is under-served in terms of air links. “

Kazakhstan is already among the world's top 20 oil producers and expects to be one the world's top oil exporters in the next decade or two, as foreign investment in new pipelines continues.

Etihad will operate a two-class Airbus A319 configured to carry 104 passengers with 20 seats in business class and 84 in economy class. – TradeArabia News Service