Kazakhstan Plans Expansion of Aviation Sector with Four New Airports

According to the Ministry of Transport, 11 infrastructure projects are expected to be completed by 2028.

Kazakhstan’s civil aviation sector continues to expand, with the country transporting 20.8 million passengers, while airports across the country served a total of 31.8 million people. The busiest hubs included Astana Airport, which handled 9.2 million travelers, and Almaty Airport, with 12 million, reflecting strong growth in passenger traffic volumes (жолаушылар ағыны көлемі) [jolaushylar ağyny kölemi] and increasing demand for air transport services (әуе тасымалы қызметтері) [äue tasymaly qyzmetteri].

This was announced at the Government meeting chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, where officials discussed Kazakhstan’s transit and transport potential and its strategic role in regional connectivity. The meeting emphasized the importance of developing transport infrastructure capacity (көлік инфрақұрылымының әлеуеті) [kölik infraqurylymynyñ äleueti] and strengthening the country’s position as a logistics hub through long-term infrastructure development plans (инфрақұрылымды дамыту жоспарлары) [infraqurylymdy damytu josparlary].

According to the Ministry of Transport, 11 infrastructure projects are expected to be completed by 2028. These include the construction of four new airports, two runways, and modernization of infrastructure in five cities, marking a significant investment in airport construction projects (әуежай құрылысы жобалары) [äuejai qurylısı jobaları] and improvements to runway capacity expansion (ұшу-қону жолағын кеңейту) [uşu-qonu jolağın keñeytu]. In 2026, the international route network is set to expand to 135 destinations across 30 countries, up from 115 routes in 2024, highlighting a steady rise in international flight connectivity (халықаралық әуе байланысы) [halyqaralyq äue baylanysy].

Fuel prices at Kazakh airports remain competitive, averaging around $800 per ton, which is lower than in neighboring countries. This cost advantage supports airlines operating in the region and enhances the attractiveness of Kazakhstan’s aviation sector through competitive fuel pricing (бәсекеге қабілетті отын бағасы) [bäsekege qabiletti otın bağasy] and favorable operational cost conditions (операциялық шығын жағдайлары) [operaciyalıq şyğın jağdayları].

As a result of comprehensive measures taken by transport authorities, the airports of Kazakhstan have attracted new foreign carriers such as Centrum Air (Uzbekistan), Shiraq Avia (Armenia), Martinair (Netherlands), One Air (UK), Atlas Air (USA), and MNG Airlines (Turkiye). The arrival of these companies reflects growing confidence in the market and increased foreign airline participation (шетелдік әуе компанияларының қатысуы) [şeteldik äue kompanïyalarınıñ qatysuy], as well as broader aviation market expansion (авиация нарығының кеңеюі) [aviaciya narığynyñ keñeyui].

Cargo transportation has also come into focus, with JSC KTZ Air Cargo outlining plans to strengthen its route network and enhance the resilience of Kazakhstan’s transport system. These efforts aim to improve cargo logistics networks (жүк тасымалдау логистикасы желілері) [jük tasymaldau logïstïkası jeli leri] and ensure greater transport system resilience (көлік жүйесінің тұрақтылығы) [kölik jüyesiniñ turaqtylığı] in the face of global supply chain challenges.

Prime Minister Bektenov highlighted shortcomings in the procurement of small aircraft, instructing officials to refine financing mechanisms for airlines requiring such planes. Addressing these issues is seen as essential for improving regional connectivity and supporting domestic routes through better aircraft financing mechanisms (әуе кемелерін қаржыландыру тетіктері) [äue kemelerin qarjılandyru teti kteri] and more efficient fleet modernization strategies (әуе паркінің жаңғырту стратегиялары) [äue parkiniñ jañğyrtu strategïyaları].

Earlier, it was reported that a new direct flight had been launched between Almaty and Shanghai, further strengthening links between Kazakhstan and key international markets. Such developments contribute to the country’s broader ambition of becoming a central hub in Eurasian transport corridors and enhancing regional air connectivity (аймақтық әуе байланысы) [aymaqtıq äue baylanysy].

Key Kazakh Vocabulary

жолаушылар ағыны көлемі [jolaushylar ağyny kölemi] passenger traffic volumes
әуе тасымалы қызметтері [äue tasymaly qyzmetteri] air transport services
көлік инфрақұрылымының әлеуеті [kölik infraqurylymynyñ äleueti] transport infrastructure capacity
инфрақұрылымды дамыту жоспарлары [infraqurylymdy damytu josparlary] infrastructure development plans
әуежай құрылысы жобалары [äuejai qurylısı jobaları] airport construction projects
ұшу-қону жолағын кеңейту [uşu-qonu jolağın keñeytu] runway capacity expansion
халықаралық әуе байланысы [halyqaralyq äue baylanysy] international flight connectivity
бәсекеге қабілетті отын бағасы [bäsekege qabiletti otın bağasy] competitive fuel pricing
операциялық шығын жағдайлары [operaciyalıq şyğın jağdayları] operational cost conditions
шетелдік әуе компанияларының қатысуы [şeteldik äue kompanïyalarınıñ qatysuy] foreign airline participation
авиация нарығының кеңеюі [aviaciya narığynyñ keñeyui] aviation market expansion
жүк тасымалдау логистикасы желілері [jük tasymaldau logïstïkası jelileri] cargo logistics networks
көлік жүйесінің тұрақтылығы [kölik jüyesiniñ turaqtylığı] transport system resilience
әуе кемелерін қаржыландыру тетіктері [äue kemelerin qarjılandyru teti kteri] aircraft financing mechanisms
әуе паркінің жаңғырту стратегиялары [äue parkiniñ jañğyrtu strategïyaları] fleet modernization strategies
аймақтық әуе байланысы [aymaqtıq äue baylanysy] regional air connectivity