Turkmenistan is considering the resumption of direct flights between Ashgabat and Almaty as early as 2025. The news came following a bilateral meeting between Mammedhan Chakiyev, Director General of the Agency for Transport and Communications under the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, and Marat Karabayev, Minister of Transport of Kazakhstan.

According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport, the restoration of the air route is expected to boost business and tourism ties between the two countries.

The talks also addressed the development of road infrastructure. As part of the North–South transport corridor project, a major overhaul of the highway from Zhanaozen to the Turkmenistan border via Kenderli will begin in Kazakhstan’s Mangystau Region. The route spans approximately 200 kilometers. The project includes full pavement replacement and an upgrade of the road’s category from fourth to third.

The sides also agreed to digitize the procedure for exchanging foreign permit forms, which is expected to simplify freight transport documentation and increase transit flows.

Both parties reaffirmed their mutual interest in further strengthening cooperation in the transportation sector. Kazakhstan continues modernizing its road checkpoints, including those located on the border with Turkmenistan.