(Photo: Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport)

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport has marked a significant expansion in its international network as two foreign airlines launched three new direct routes on the same day.

On March 30, Kazakhstan's Air Astana and Vietnam's VietJet Air introduced fresh connections linking Guangzhou with key cities in Central Asia and Southeast Asia.

Air Astana inaugurated its new Guangzhou-Almaty service, with the first flight KC187 touching down at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport at 5:21 AM on March 31. The Airbus A321LR aircraft received a ceremonial water salute, signifying the official launch of the route.

Operating three times a week, the flights depart Almaty on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays at 8:30 PM, arriving in Guangzhou early the next morning. The return journey leaves Guangzhou on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 6:50 AM, reaching Almaty before noon (all times local).

This addition strengthens Air Astana's presence in China, increasing its weekly flights to 17 across multiple routes, including Beijing, Urumqi, and Sanya. With a mutual visa-free policy in place since November 2023, travel between China and Kazakhstan is now more convenient than ever.

(Photo: Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport)

Vietnam's VietJet Air has also expanded its footprint in China, launching two daily services linking Guangzhou with Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. These new routes enhance air travel between Vietnam's economic hubs and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, catering to the growing demand for business and tourism.