Italian airline Neos will launch direct flights to Astana from Rome and Milan by the end of the year, as well as a route from Italy to India via Aktau, announced Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Transport Talgat Lastayev after a meeting between President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the airline’s leadership.

“The airline management reported plans for this year to open flights from Astana to Rome, Astana to Milan, and <…> from Italy to India via Aktau. All these routes are planned to be opened by the end of the year,” stated Lastayev, as reported by the Kazakhstan president’s press service. According to him, this initiative will boost tourism, economic ties, and business development between the two countries.

The press service also mentioned that the Italian side plans to increase the number of flights on the existing Milan to Almaty route.

Established in 2001 as a joint venture between Italian Alpitour S.p.A. and German TUI Group, Neos is one of the largest private Italian airlines, operating flights to over 70 destinations.