Air Kyrgyzstan (Bishkek) is to be consolidated into JSC Manas International Airport, the company responsible for managing Bishkek airport, as part of a government push to improve the long-term viability and competitiveness of Kyrgyz aviation-oriented companies.

According to the Tazabek news agency, once the decision has been officially approved, shares in the state-backed carrier will be transferred to JSC Manas International Airport. The airline will benefit immensely from the tie-up in terms of cost synergies thereby allowing it to compete more effectively with foreign carriers - those from Russia in particular.

In addition to charter flights, the Kyrgyz national carrier operates scheduled domestic and international services to Russia, the UAE, China, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, using a B737-300 and a B737-500.