Alatau City - The Times Of Central Asia

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Air Transport

From Alatau to Almaty by Air: How Kazakhstan’s First Air Taxi Service Will Operate

The Almaty region is preparing to introduce a groundbreaking new mode of transport for Kazakhstan: electric air taxis. While the project remains in the development and testing phase, key details about routes, aircraft, and the projected launch timeline have already been outlined. The first air taxi routes are expected to connect the newly developing city of Alatau with Almaty and other settlements across the region. The aircraft under consideration for this initiative is the Joby Aviation S4, an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) model developed by U.S.-based Joby Aviation. Test flights are scheduled for 2026. Alatau Advance Air Group, a private company, has been designated as the air mobility operator for the Alatau region. In collaboration with partners from the U.S., South Korea, China, and Italy, the company is working on aircraft research, infrastructure planning, and building a testing ecosystem to support future operations. Joby Aviation, one of the global leaders in eVTOL technology, has been named a strategic partner. The selected S4 model is in the final stages of certification by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and has already undergone real-world testing. The aircraft is designed to carry four passengers and one pilot. These capabilities will allow the air taxi service to cover both urban routes within the Almaty agglomeration and longer intercity routes across the wider region. To accommodate operations, a network of vertiports, dedicated airfields for vertical take-off aircraft, is planned for Alatau, Almaty, and other key regional locations. The project is currently in the design phase, with testing sites under consideration. Demonstration flights are slated for 2026, with commercial services expected to launch once aircraft certification by the FAA is finalized and validated by Kazakhstan’s aviation authorities. “Air taxis will become an innovative form of transport that will provide fast connections between Alatau, Almaty, and other cities in the region,” the Almaty mayor’s office commented. Flight pricing is expected to be announced following testing and preparations for the commercial rollout. The air taxi concept was first introduced in October 2024 at a development forum in South Korea focused on the Alatau project. The initiative is being led by Alatau Advance Air Group, founded in March 2025. The company is connected via Caspian Integrity to entrepreneur and former senator Yuri Tskhai, one of the key investors behind Alatau City. In November, a strategic agreement was signed in the U.S. between Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Digital Development and AI, Joby Aero, Alatau Advance Air Group, and entrepreneur Vyacheslav Kim. The deal includes the purchase of eVTOL aircraft valued at approximately $300 million. Joby Aviation continues to be a major player in the global eVTOL industry, competing with major aerospace and automotive firms including Airbus, Boeing, Embraer, Honda, Hyundai, and Toyota.

TCA Interviews

Lifting Off: Kazakhstan’s Push Into Next-Gen Aviation Technologies

Kazakhstan’s plans to create an air taxi system based on electric eVTOLs in the city of Alatau have drawn attention to the country’s readiness to take the lead in implementing advanced unmanned technologies. The project would require large-scale changes in regulation and technological infrastructure, as well as personnel training and risk assessment. The Times of Central Asia discussed these futuristic developments with Aslan Satzhanov, acting CEO of the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan JSC. Goals and Expected Results TCA: What is the Concept for the Development of Civil Unmanned Aviation in Kazakhstan, and what does it provide for? What are the key goals set out in the document? Satzhanov: In accordance with the government decree, the main goals for the development of civil unmanned aviation are to increase the volume of work using unmanned aerial systems (UAS), de-bureaucratize, digitize, and transform existing requirements, procedures, and processes. The principal aim is to simplify the formalities for performing UAS flights in designated airspace as much as possible. The development of the industry is based on the principles of safety, minimization of risks to people and objects, and the creation of the most favorable conditions for technological growth. Key approaches include establishing a scientific foundation, improving the training system, and expanding the scope of UAS applications. By 2031, it is planned that at least 80% of secondary and vocational education institutions will teach the basics of unmanned aviation. The share of enterprises in the agro-industrial complex (AIC), industry, and energy that use UAVs will grow by at least 30%. The localization of production of key UAS components in Kazakhstan will increase to 10%. In addition, Kazakhstani companies will be able to enter promising segments of the global market for unmanned aerial vehicles and software. Regulation and Legislative Framework TCA: How is the regulation of UAV flights and production structured today? To what extent does the regulatory framework meet modern requirements? Satzhanov: The fundamental document is the Rules for the Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems, adopted back in 2020. Kazakhstan became the first country in the post-Soviet space to approve comprehensive rules for the use of UAS in its airspace. Later, amendments were made to the Law on the Use of Airspace. Based on these amendments, the rules for the use of airspace for UAS operations were updated in 2023. Thus, the regulatory framework has been fully established. It is in line with global trends from urban air mobility to unmanned taxis and strikes a balance between technological development and flight safety. The transition to eVTOL and urban air mobility will create a new transport ecosystem: it increases population mobility, reduces the load on ground infrastructure, improves the environmental situation, and promotes innovation. Training TCA: What measures are planned for training UAV operators and introducing unmanned technologies into educational programs? Satzhanov: The concept provides for the creation of a multi-level training and professional development system. Modules on civil unmanned aviation will be introduced into secondary and vocational education programs, covering at least 80% of educational...

Transport

Alatau to Become First City in Kazakhstan with Air Taxi System

Alatau, a newly established city in southern Kazakhstan near the country’s largest metropolis, Almaty, is set to become the first in the nation to launch an air taxi system. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development recently signed a memorandum of understanding with U.S. based Joby Aero, Inc. for the purchase of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft valued at approximately $300 million. The aircraft will form the basis of a new urban air mobility system. The agreement also includes Alatau Advance Air Group Ltd., a local operator and integrator of air mobility technologies, and Vyacheslav Kim, chairman of the board of directors at Kaspi.kz and a key investor in the Alatau City development project. Plans for the construction of Alatau City were unveiled in late 2024, when four villages near Almaty were merged to create a new urban agglomeration. The city aims to attract $7.2 billion in investment and grow to a population of 2 million. It will also be part of a special economic zone that includes more than 170 planned projects worth a combined $24.4 billion. Authorities hope to position Alatau as a leading destination for investors. Joby Aero, Inc., a global leader in eVTOL aviation and the developer of certified electric air taxis, will supply aircraft capable of vertical take-off and landing. These aircraft will anchor Kazakhstan’s first urban air mobility initiative. The agreement also includes the creation of a testing site in southern Kazakhstan for certification and demonstration flights, along with plans to integrate air taxis into the transport systems of both Alatau and Almaty. Joby’s electric aircraft can travel up to 160 kilometers on a single charge and reach speeds of up to 322 km/h. The distance between Almaty and Alatau is approximately 34 kilometers. “Kazakhstan is taking a step into the future of innovative transport. The purchase of electric eVTOL aircraft marks an important milestone in developing smart cities and integrating cutting-edge technologies,” said Zhaslan Madiyev, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development. “This move will shape Alatau as a city built on the technologies of tomorrow.” As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakh authorities plan to launch commercial air taxi operations as early as next year.