Astana, Kazakhstan, Oct.28
By Daniyar Mukhtarov - Trend:
The first flight Astana - Paris will take place on the eve of Nauryz holiday, Ambassador of France to Kazakhstan Francis Etienne told Trend.
It should be noted that Nauryz meyramy is a holiday of spring renewal in Kazakhstan, which coincides with the day of the vernal equinox.
"The first flight Astana - Paris is planned to be implemented on the eve of Nauryz," said the diplomat. "A lottery will be held December 1, 2014 within the framework of the annual Christmas fair in Astana, where the main prize will become the two tickets for the first flight from Astana to Paris."
He said that the flight will be carried out by planes of Air Astana three times a week.
"The flight between the two capitals will be implemented at first," he said. "Then we will work on the organization of flights between Paris and Almaty, and then Almaty and Nice."
The French embassy annually issues about 10,000 visas and up to 100,000 Schengen visas to citizens of Kazakhstan.
"With the opening of direct flight, the quantity of Kazakhs, visiting France is expected to increase by more than 2 times," said the ambassador.
It was previously reported that the aeronautical authorities of the two countries signed a new memorandum of understanding which allows opening Astana-Paris flight route in 2015.