Will Kazakhstan’s massive 2026 Astana and Almaty airport upgrades redefine transit?

Kazakhstan is building new aviation hubs. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov shared plans. The goal is more transit cargo.

Astana Airport Expansion

Astana Airport needs a second runway. Construction will start in early 2026. This project allows for runway repairs.

The old runway is 20 years old. Capacity will reach 40 million people. This is a fourfold capacity increase.

The airport will use digital systems. Biometric control points will be added. UAE specialists will help train staff.

Almaty Airport Progress

Almaty Airport is also growing fast. The domestic terminal finishes in July. TAV Airports manages this site.

Capacity will rise to 19 million. New runway work will also begin. This helps Air Astana grow.

The airport serves 12 million people. It handles 70% of air traffic. A new ring road is planned.

Fuel and Logistics

Aviation fuel prices are now lower. Prices dropped to $950 per ton. This attracts many foreign airline partners.

The government wants better transit speed. A national cargo airline starts soon. It will launch later in 2026.

A new digital system is coming. It is called the Smart Cargo system. This will help track all shipments.

Global Standards

Kazakhstan follows ICAO safety rules. The country has high audit scores. IATA sees growth in Eurasia.

New rail lines will also open. These lines total 475 kilometers long. Transit volumes will grow by 60%.

Container trains will move much faster. Speeds will reach 50 km/h soon. Delivery times will drop by 30%.

Road and Rail Upgrades

Roadwork covers 11,000 kilometers of land. Two new railroad lines are finished. The railway network is being modernized.

Cargo moves from China to Europe. Delivery time is now 55 hours. It was 84 hours last year.

The government monitors all these projects. They want to be a hub. This will help the local economy.

Impact on Aviation

Airlines will see lower operating costs. Cheaper fuel helps every single carrier. More routes will open to Europe.

Passengers will have more flight choices. New terminals mean shorter wait times. Modern gates will improve the experience.

The fleet will grow this year. Airlines will add nine new planes. The total fleet will reach 118.

Stay ahead of the airline industry with commercial aviation news from flying.flights. For detailed airline coverage, route changes, and fleet moves, explore the Airlines section at flying.flights/airlines.