Air Transport - The Times Of Central Asia

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New International Terminal Opens at Almaty Airport

On June 1, a new international terminal was opened at Almaty Airport in readiness to launch its first flights by the middle of the month. According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport, the new terminal will increase the airport's capacity to 14 million passengers per year and before long, launch 15 new international routes to 10 countries. On 31 May, prior to the opening, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, accompanied by Nikolai Podguzov, Chairman of the Eurasian Development Bank’s (EDB) Management Board visited the new terminal for a tour of its check-in, border and customs control areas and baggage services. The EDB was part of a syndicate of lenders which included the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the German Investment Corporation (DEG). Their total investment in the project amounted to US $450 million. In praise of the project, Tokayev remarked, “Almaty International Airport is the nation’s largest air hub. Inbound tourism to the southern capital grows every year, with over 2 million people having visited the city in 2023. Two years ago, I participated in the time capsule laying ceremony on this site, and tomorrow the new terminal at Almaty International Airport will serve its first flights.” With reference to security, Alp Er Tunga Ersoy, President of Almaty International Airport drew attention to the fact that the terminal was designed to meet seismic and fire safety requirements and withstand a magnitude 10 earthquake. The new international terminal was originally scheduled to open in late summer 2024. However, due to a rapid increase in passenger traffic, construction was expedited. All international flights will be transferred to the new terminal by mid-June and the old terminal, repurposed for domestic flights. The President of Kazakhstan expressed his gratitude to TAV GROUP for constructing the terminal to international standards and thanked the syndicate of lenders for its vital support. In response, EDB chairman Podguzov commented, “The construction of a new international terminal and the modernization of Almaty Airport is a significant initiative for the development of Kazakhstan’s transport sector, as it is the country’s largest air hub and part of an extensive international network of routes. We highly appreciate the trust and support of the Government of Kazakhstan and our partners – the EBRD, Germany’s DEG, and the IFC.”

Air Transport

International Flights from Kazakhstan on the Rise

As reported by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport, the country currently operates 567 international flights per week to 28 countries. The greatest number of flights are destined for Russia with 139 taking off each week to Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Mineralnye Vody, Kazan, Sochi, Krasnoyarsk, Novosibirsk, Makhachkala, and Grozny. Turkey is also a popular destination, with 125 flights per week to Istanbul, Ankara, and Antalya. The United Arab Emirates receives 58 flights per week in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah. China has 43 flights per week to Beijing, Urumqi, Xi'an, Hangzhou, and Sanya. Kazakhstan plans to significantly increase the number of flights to Vietnam, Thailand, Egypt, and Georgia this year.

Air Transport Trade Tourism

Launch of Flights Between Almaty and Nukus

From 1 June, Uzbekistan Airways will begin operating regular flights between Almaty in Kazakhstan and Nukus, the main city of Uzbekistan’s north-western Karakalpak Autonomous Region. Flights on a 174-seat A320 aircraft, will operate twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. In welcoming the move, the Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan said that the new air route would greatly enhance the development of trade, economic and business cooperation between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The introduction of the flights will also benefit tourism, making it easier and quicker to visit the region’s renowned Savitsky Museum, home to one of the world’s best collections of Soviet art; the Muynak Ship Cemetery on the fast-disappearing Aral Sea, and the ancient city of Mizdakhan. The total number of international flights from Kazakhstan now stands at 567 per week on 121 air routes, including direct flights to 28 countries.

Air Transport Kazakhstan Investments

German Investors Plan to Build Airport in Khorgos

Investors from Germany intend to start construction of a cargo/passenger airport at the Khorgos China-Kazakhstan gateway. The project will help increase the volume of cargo transportation between Kazakhstan and China, Zakon.kz reports. In recent years, the Zhetysu region has begun realizing its economic potential through the implementation of major logistics projects. "The Hansa Consortium, a German company, is working on investing in a new airport on the territory of the special economic zone Khorgos - Eastern Gate," said Bakytnur Bakytuly, head of the Entrepreneurship and Industrial-Innovative Development of the Zhetysu region. The akimat (local administration) of Zhetysu region and the Hansa Consortium have already signed a memorandum for the project. The special economic zone (SEZ) already has the Altynkol freight railway station and a "dry port" logistics complex, the KTZE-Khorgos Gateway. A feasibility study has been completed for the new international airport in Khorgos, which cost the state $195 million. According to the project, the estimated cargo capacity of the airport will be 377 tons per day, and the construction of this facility will provide the region with an additional 450 permanent jobs. Galymzhan Daribayev, head of the Department of Transport and Roads of the Zhetysu region, said that construction of a second railroad track on a section of the Moyinty-Dostyk route towards the Chinese border is ongoing. According to him, the project will include modernization of railway sections Connector 1 - Prezlovaya Station, a length of 167 kilometers, and Aktogai-Vostok Station - Dostyk Station, a length of 275 kilometers. The volume of investment for this project is $654 million and should be completed in November 2024. The Zhetysu region already has two airports that operate civilian passenger flights, one in the regional center, Taldykorgan, which most often connects with Astana, and the second in Usharal, which has a population of about 80,000 people. The runway of this airport can accommodate large aircraft, which plays a very important role in increasing the flow of tourists to the region. Usharal is located 40 kilometers from one of the most popular domestic tourist spots in Kazakhstan - Lake Alakol, the waters of which are said to have therapeutic effect. As part of a development program set forth in 2022, the runway at Usharal was reconstructed and now receives seasonal flights on the routes Almaty-Usharal-Almaty, Astana-Usharal-Astana, as well as the year-round route Taldykorgan-Usharal-Taldykorgan.

Kazakhstan Economy Air Transport

Air Asia, Malaysia Airlines to Receive Fifth Degree Air Freedom in Kazakhstan

Negotiations between the chairman of Kazakhstan's Civil Aviation Committee, Saltanat Tompieva, and the director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), Norazman Bin Mahmud, took place in In Kuala Lumpur, and were also attended by the heads of flagship carrier Malaysia Airlines and low-cost airline Air Asia X, alongside employees of the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan and representatives of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Malaysia. During the talks, the Kazakh delegation declared its readiness for further cooperation with Malaysia, and is also prepared to expand the geography of flights for Air Asia X and Malaysia Airlines to the cities of Kazakhstan. Also under consideration is the option of granting Malaysia the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) fifth degree of Freedom of Air. This means that Kazakhstan will allow Malaysian airlines to perform inbound flights originating in a third country, stopping in Kazakhstan, provided that the final destination will be the airline's home country. The Kazakh delegation also visited Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Currently, the airport's passenger traffic amounts to more than 60 million passengers a year, receiving flights from more than 60 world airlines. The first direct flight between Almaty and Kuala Lumpur is expected to be launched this month.

Air Transport

Air Astana Preparing for IPO

Air Astana has officially confirmed its participation in the listing of securities on the London Stock Exchange, the IFCA Stock Exchange (AIX), and the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE). This was first announced at a briefing on January 19th, which was attended by Dastan Adikhodzhaev, the director of privatization and restructuring of assets of Samruk Kazyna JSC, and Peter Foster, the president of Air Astana JSC. Adikhodzhaev noted that this decision was taken to support the instructions of the President of Kazakhstan, and to maintain a comprehensive plan for privatization for 2021-2025. "Privatization of part of state blocks, especially by bringing our largest companies to IPO, SPO is an important part. Tasks are being solved progressively, and in recent years we have made significant progress in this direction," said Adikhodzhaev. At the upcoming IPO it is planned to sell common shares in the national currency, as well as global depositary receipts in U.S. dollars. For the realization of the local offering, the company has attracted Halyk Finance JSC as joint bookrunner, Freedom Finance Global PLC as lead manager, as well as BCC Invest JSC, SkyBridge Invest JSC and Jusan Invest JSC as co-managers. The IPO is scheduled to begin on January 29th. "On behalf of the Company, I am pleased to officially confirm our intention to take Air Astana Group public,"President and CEO of Air Astana, Peter Foster commented. "As the largest airline group in Central Asia and the Caucasus, we believe that our industry status, market position and growth profile represent an attractive investment opportunity. This is an important milestone in our long-term strategy and we look forward to welcoming new Kazakhstani and international investors as shareholders of the group. The Company intends to raise an additional $120 million." According to the Skytrax World Airline Awards, Air Astana was the Best Airline in Central Asia and the CIS in 2023, the eleventh time the company has won this title. Air Astana also has a five-star rating in the category of the largest airlines by APEX (Airline Passenger Experience Association).