Kazakhstan is working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to develop a master plan for the country’s aviation industry through 2050. The country aims to expand its international route network and increase air cargo traffic by capitalizing on its location between Europe and Asia. Saltanat Tompiyeva, chair of Kazakhstan’s Civil Aviation Committee, announced the plan at the New Silk Way 2026 transport and logistics forum in Astana.
In the first nine months of 2026, Kazakh airlines carried 12.4 million passengers, while the country’s airports handled 136,500 tons of cargo. Kazakhstan’s international route network covers 31 countries and 137 destinations. Since the beginning of the year, 24 new routes having been launched from Kazakhstan, including flights connecting Almaty with Chongqing and Warsaw, and Astana with Ulaanbaatar.
According to Tompiyeva, the master plan will establish a long-term development framework for the aviation sector. To support domestic cargo carriers, Kazakhstan has introduced import incentives for certain categories of aircraft and intends to expand their access to international markets.
Several airport development projects were also presented at the forum. Astana International Airport plans to build a second runway and expand its cargo infrastructure by 2035. There are also plans to build a second airport in Astana. In September, authorities signed a framework agreement with Singapore’s Changi Airports International to cooperate on building the new airport and developing the existing one.
Meanwhile, Aktau has plans for an aviation and logistics hub with projected investment of $400 million to $500 million and Karaganda Airport is developing the QarGo Hub project and aims to increase cargo throughput to 61,000 tons in 2026. The city is also home to Alatau Air Cargo, an airline established as KTZ Air Cargo in late 2025 and renamed in June 2026, which is preparing to launch cargo flights.
SCAT Airlines also presented 12 investment projects to develop its hub in Shymkent, including airport infrastructure expansion and the establishment of aircraft maintenance facilities.
Kazakhstan also plans to double its fleet of aircraft operated by Kazakh airlines by 2030.
