Tokayev Urges Faster Start of Construction on New Airport in Astana

Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for construction of a new airport in Astana to begin as soon as possible, citing growing regional competition for transport and passenger traffic. In 2025, the domestic terminal at Astana International Airport handled 6.3 million passengers, more than twice its annual design capacity of 3 million. The overload prompted city authorities to first consider expanding the existing airport and later to discuss building a second air hub. The idea was also backed by an earlier instruction from Tokayev to assess the feasibility of a second airport in the capital and determine a possible location. In early June, media reports suggested that the new airport could be built in the northwest of Astana, while the existing airport is located in the southeast. The city administration denied that a site had been selected, saying only that potential locations were being considered as part of adjustments to the capital’s master plan. Speaking at a joint session of parliament on June 30, Tokayev said the project should now move faster. “In aviation, there is accelerated expansion of route networks and the formation of full-fledged air hubs. From this point of view, the construction of a new airport in Astana is a task that cannot be delayed. Construction must begin as soon as possible,” Tokayev said. The president also said Kazakhstan should create a national cargo airline to enhance its position in international logistics. “As the leading oil and gas country in the region, we must create a strong aviation fuel supply infrastructure. This is a very important task that cannot be delayed,” he said. Tokayev also highlighted the need to improve Kazakhstan’s road network. He said repair work began last year on 13,000 kilometers of roads, 6,000 kilometers of which have been put into operation. Tokayev described it as the largest road infrastructure effort in the country’s history. He said modernization of several road border checkpoints should be completed next year. “As a result of these efforts, transit freight by road has doubled over the past five years and reached 6 million tons,” Tokayev said. He added that road carriers in Kazakhstan generated about $3.12 billion in revenue last year, nearly matching revenue from rail transport and showing the sector’s growth potential. Tokayev also pointed to ongoing railway modernization. Last year, traffic was launched on the second tracks of the Dostyk-Moyynty section and on the Almaty bypass railway line. This year, construction is expected to be completed on the Moyynty-Kyzylzhar and Darbaza-Maktaaral railway lines, while the Bakhty-Ayagoz line is due to be commissioned next year. “We need to focus on the most important element of the country’s infrastructure framework, the transport and logistics sector. This sector is of strategic importance. All countries in our region are paying attention to it, so competition is intensifying,” Tokayev said. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan’s aviation authorities plan to double the country’s domestic aircraft fleet by 2030 and are seeking foreign investors to build new cargo and...