Azernews.Az

By Abdul Kerimkhanov

The cooperation between Kazakhstan and India has acquired a strategic status and is currently developing at a steady pace.

Indian airline SpiceJet received a certificate of accreditation of a foreign air carrier in Kazakhstan.

Now, the airline has the right to operate up to six flights a week on the route Delhi - Almaty - Delhi, according to the press service of the Civil Aviation Committee.

The airline plans to perform regular flights on Boeing-737 aircraft.

"The opening of the flight will contribute to the development of trade and economic relations between the countries, transit potential and the tourism industry in Kazakhstan", noted in the Civil Aviation Committee.

Since 2018, a 72-hour visa-free regime has been in effect for citizens of India travelling through Kazakhstan. It is extended until the end of 2019.

Since 2017, this visa-free regime also applies to citizens of China.

Note that the number of transit passengers increased by 45 percent and amounted to 900,000 people in 2018 (in 2017 - 620,000 people).

SpiceJet is an Indian low cost airline that makes local and international flights. In addition to domestic flights, the company operates flights to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Thailand, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Maldives.

SpiceJet’s mission is to become India’s preferred low-cost airline, delivering the lowest air fares with the highest consumer value, to price sensitive consumers.

Qazaq Air JSC is a regional airline for serving domestic routes in Kazakhstan, 100 percent of the shares of which are owned by Samruk-Kazyna National Welfare Fund JSC. The company was registered in April 2015.

Qazaq Air intends to meet the highest international and national safety requirements. The airline operates turboprop aircraft of the Canadian manufacturer Bombardier.

Diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and India were established on February 22, 1992.

Kazakhstan supplies uranium concentrate to India, oil, asbestos, steel, salt, sulfur, lime, cement, raw hides and ferrous metals.

India exports to Kazakhstan coffee, tea, spices, tobacco, organic chemical compounds, pharmaceutical products, plastics, rubber, rubber products, electrical machinery and mechanical equipment.

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Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94

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