At the Government session chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, Minister of Transport Nurlan Sauranbayev reported on the ongoing work and prospective plans for the development of domestic civil aviation, primeminister.kz reports.
In 2025, Kazakh airlines carried 15 million passengers, while domestic airports served 32 million people. 173 thousand tons of cargo were also handled, which is 1.4% more than in the previous period. In the first four months of this year, the number of passengers carried has already exceeded 4 million. At the same time, a decrease in cargo transportation volumes was recorded while passenger traffic remained stable, influenced by the geopolitical situation in the Middle East.
The country has fully formed the main institutional framework necessary for the development of civil aviation. Kazakhstan currently demonstrates a high level of compliance with ICAO requirements: the aviation security level of airports is 95.7%, and airline security is assessed at 82%. These indicators have allowed the country to enter the top 20 countries in the world in terms of aviation security. To further strengthen these positions, the Aviation Accident Investigation Center has been established, international experts have been brought in to work at the Civil Aviation Authority, and the General Plan for the Development of the Industry until 2050 is planned to be adopted jointly with ICAO by the end of this year.
Special attention at the meeting was paid to the growth of transit flights, the volume of which has increased 4 times over the past 5 years. Today, transit forms the main part of revenue from air navigation services. To modernize the air traffic management system, a contract was signed in 2025 with the leading American corporation LEIDOS. Over the next 5 years, it is planned to completely upgrade air navigation infrastructure, which will significantly increase the efficiency of Kazakh air corridors.
To ensure regional connectivity, the state provides support for domestic air routes. In 2026, 6.4 billion tenge has been allocated for subsidizing 24 socially significant routes. In addition, stimulating tourist destinations will give an additional impetus to regional transportation. To systematically develop domestic air transportation, the Ministry proposes amendments to the legislation granting local executive bodies the right to subsidize interregional flights at their own expense, as well as exempting regular domestic flights from value-added tax.
At the same time, domestic and foreign airlines are working to expand the geography of international flights. In 2026, 4 new international routes have already been launched, and another 11 routes are planned to be opened or resumed by the end of the year.
The Minister also addressed the issues of fleet renewal amid a global shortage of aircraft, where the waiting period for orders ranges from 8 to 10 years. Last year, domestic carriers signed agreements with Boeing in the United States totaling $15 billion. In 2026, 3 aircraft have already been acquired, including two new Boeing aircraft received by SCAT airline. By the end of this year, the fleet of Kazakh airlines will be replenished with another 6 aircraft.
As part of the modernization of airport infrastructure, the Ministry is implementing a three-year plan covering not only major air hubs but also small regional airports. In fulfillment of the Head of State’s instruction, work is underway to build new airports in the tourist areas of Katon-Karagay, Zaysan, and Kenderli, as well as to restore the airport in Arkalyk.
The main work on the development of major air hubs is concentrated on 6 key airports of the republic, where infrastructure modernization is carried out mainly through attracting private investment. Thus, on May 14, during the visit of the President of the Republic of Türkiye, an investment agreement was signed for the modernization of Almaty International Airport.
To strengthen transit potential and integrate Kazakhstan into international logistics chains, the state is implementing a set of measures to support cargo aviation. A duty-free import regime for cargo aircraft has been introduced, runways are being modernized to accommodate heavy aircraft, and a specialized five-year plan for the development of the cargo segment has been approved.
The Minister noted that despite the rise in the cost of imported raw materials, the fuel price of the single operator KazMunayGas Aero remains at a competitive level of $1,200 per ton, and the company’s share in the domestic market has grown to 33%. Airlines have been granted the right to purchase directly from domestic refineries without paying import duties, which has allowed an increase in the number of transit flights by 16.3%. At the same time, there has been an increase in the transit passenger traffic of the national carrier Air Astana - in March this year, this indicator increased 2.5 times compared to the same period last year.
To stimulate small aviation in the country, the cost of certification has been reduced by 50%, the insurance system is being modernized, and the procedure for transitioning pilots from military to civil aviation is being simplified. In addition, separate rules for regulating tourist flights are being developed.
To address the personnel shortage (with the current number of employees at 23,000 and an annual need of 500 specialists), the Ministry is working on opening a certified training center together with a major foreign partner.
As part of the introduction of advanced technologies and the development of urban air taxis, domestic companies Allur and Alatau Advanced Group have begun the procedure for purchasing test unmanned aerial vehicles, and the construction of landing pads and an operations center has been launched. The relevant package of legislative amendments will be submitted to the Mazhilis of the Parliament by July 1 this year.
Nurlan Sauranbayev also reported on the digitalization of control and logistics processes. The introduction of the Q-Gate system at the airports of Astana and Almaty has already reduced control time from 3 minutes to 50 seconds. This year, another 16 similar terminals will be installed in Shymkent, Atyrau, Aktobe, and Aktau, after which a pilot project for the introduction of biometrics on the Astana-Shymkent flights will begin. In the cargo sector, the e-Freight information system is being implemented, reducing cargo handling time from 1 day to 1 hour.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.