Ashgabat travellers gain four weekly city links as Delhi flights drop to two

Turkmenistan Airlines has raised the frequency of several international routes under a revised timetable that came into force on 25 October 2026. Flights from Ashgabat to Seoul, Milan, Kazan and Istanbul all become more frequent, while services to New Delhi are reduced.

Key facts

• New schedule effective: 25 October 2026
• More flights: Seoul 1 to 2 per week, Milan 2 to 3, Kazan 4 to 6, Istanbul 12 to 13
• Fewer flights: New Delhi 3 to 2 per week
• Unchanged: Beijing, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, London, Frankfurt
• Main hub: Ashgabat International Airport, including return flights

Which routes have more flights?

Direct services from the Turkmen capital to Seoul rise from one to two flights per week. On the route to Milan in Italy, frequency increases from two to three flights per week.

Flights on the Ashgabat–Kazan route go up from four to six per week. Air service to Istanbul also expands, taking total frequency to 13 flights per week, compared with 12 previously.

What else has changed?

The number of flights to New Delhi was scheduled to drop from three to two per week, Turkmen media reported. Frequency on all other routes remains unchanged under the new schedule, including Beijing, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, London and Frankfurt.

The state-run Turkmenistan News Portal said the updated schedule covers return flights to Ashgabat International Airport. It described the change as a response to growing demand for air travel and a further step in connecting the country's civil aviation infrastructure with the global transport network.

What this means for travellers

Passengers using Turkmenistan Airlines through Ashgabat now have more choice of dates on the Seoul, Milan, Kazan and Istanbul routes, and fewer on the New Delhi route. Travellers heading to or from India should expect one flight per week less on this route than before.

Background

Turkmenistan has been investing in airport infrastructure and seeking to attract more international carriers. In August, Air Belgium operated its first cargo flight to Ashgabat International Airport, as the country works towards becoming an air cargo hub between Asia and Europe.

The change follows other aviation moves in the region. Early this month, the lower house of Tajikistan's parliament ratified an air transport agreement between the Tajik government and the United Arab Emirates, which would allow more flights between the two countries.