Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan Favor Tehran Flights

Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan intend to launch direct flights to the Iranian capital Tehran.

President Hassan Rouhani, who is touring Central Asia, met with his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev on Thursday in Astana before meeting Kyrgyzstan President Almazbek Atambayev a day later in Bishkek.

At a joint statement on Thursday, Nazarbayev said Iran and Kazakhstan are planning to introduce regular flights between Astana and Tehran, AKI Press reported.

There are three weekly flights between Almaty and Tehran, which operate at 65% occupancy.

“[Iran and Kazakhstan] are also going to begin addressing obstacles to simplifying visa requirements to help develop tourism,” Nazarbayev said.

Atambayev, who hosted Rouhani on Friday in Bishkek, said direct flights between the two countries are needed.

Speaking to reporters later, the Kyrgyz president said the foreign ministers of the two countries will meet “within a month” to discuss easing of visa regulations for businessmen and tour groups, with an eye toward abolishing the visa regime altogether.

Rouhani welcomed the notion, saying that “it is necessary to waive visa requirements”.