BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 7. Kazakhstan has
significant potential to develop into an aviation hub for passenger
and cargo traffic, but further progress in infrastructure
development, operational cost competitiveness and long-term
planning will be essential to strengthen the country’s position,
Rafael Schvartzman, IATA Regional Vice President for Europe, told
Trend in an exclusive
interview.
According to Schvartzman, the International Air Transport
Association (IATA) supports the ambitions of Kazakhstan’s President
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to transform the country into one of the
region’s key aviation centers. “IATA applauds the ambitions of
President Tokayev for Kazakhstan to become an aviation hub for
passengers and cargo. Opportunities for growth certainly exist,”
Schvartzman said.
At the same time, he noted that Kazakhstan’s current transit
role remains below its potential. “Only 3% of passengers arriving
in Kazakhstan are transiting to another country. And of the top ten
most popular destinations from Kazakhstan, only one is in Western
Europe, with none in India, China or the Americas,” he said.
According to the IATA representative, further development of
Kazakhstan’s air connectivity will be an important factor in
strengthening the country’s position on international routes.
IATA’s recently published report “Regional Air Connectivity in
Kazakhstan: A 2025 Snapshot” highlights significant progress in the
country’s aviation network over the past decade. The number of
scheduled routes increased from 200 in 2015 to 295 in 2025,
representing a 48% growth.
Kazakhstan is currently served by 42 airlines, up from 34 in
2015, with scheduled flights operating from 22 airports. In terms
of route composition, 42% of scheduled routes are medium haul, 37%
are short haul, and 11% are long haul.
The report also shows that 70% of today’s routes differ from
those operated in 2015, reflecting a significant transformation of
Kazakhstan’s air connectivity over the past decade. “Kazakhstan has
the opportunity to capitalize on the global flows of passenger and
cargo traffic while also positioning itself as a unique and
attractive destination,” Schvartzman said.
Commenting on the agreement between KazMunayGas-Aero and ASL
Airlines Belgium on aircraft refueling services at Almaty
International Airport, Schvartzman said compliance with
international standards is a fundamental requirement for airports
serving global carriers. “International cargo airlines already
expect airports handling international traffic to meet established
safety, fuel quality, and operational standards for aircraft
refuelling,” he said.
However, according to the IATA representative, strengthening
Kazakhstan’s position as an aviation hub will also depend on
improving the competitiveness of airport operating costs. “A bigger
consideration for enhancing the attractiveness of Kazakhstan and
Almaty is the competitiveness of airport operating costs,
particularly fuel prices. With fuel prices in Kazakhstan still
higher than those at similar hubs such as Dubai, further efforts
are needed to eliminate this cost disadvantage and strengthen the
country’s competitiveness as an aviation hub,” Schvartzman
said.
Beyond passenger connectivity, Kazakhstan has also strengthened
its role in regional air cargo transportation. According to
Schvartzman, the country has become Central Asia’s primary air
cargo gateway, with cargo volumes showing significant growth in
recent years. “Latest data from IATA shows that Kazakhstan has
consolidated its position as Central Asia’s primary air cargo
gateway, with combined inbound, outbound and direct transit cargo
volumes rising by 149% in 2024 compared with 2019,” he said.
He noted that the increase in outbound cargo flows reflects a
broader transformation of the region’s role in global supply
chains. “The sharp rise in outbound cargo volumes indicates that
the region is evolving beyond simple technical stopovers toward
more active connections and consolidation functions linking Europe
and China,” Schvartzman said.
According to him, the further development of Almaty Airport’s
infrastructure will be important for supporting Kazakhstan’s air
cargo growth. The airport is currently implementing a $362 million
(KZT 175 billion) modernization program aimed at expanding its
capabilities. “As the country’s key hub, Almaty Airport’s $362
million investment program to overhaul its airport will be key to
supporting this growth,” Schvartzman said.
He highlighted Almaty’s geographic advantages, particularly its
proximity to China, as a factor supporting the airport’s potential
in trans-Eurasian air corridors. “With conflict in the Middle East
continuing, it is well placed to capture east-west traffic,
particularly given Almaty’s proximity to China,” he said.
Schvartzman added that growing demand for efficient air routes
between Europe and Asia creates additional opportunities for
Kazakhstan to strengthen its position in international logistics
networks.
He emphasized that continued investment in safety improvements
and modern, affordable airport infrastructure, including facilities
serving Astana, will play a key role in supporting a resilient
aviation sector, strengthening tourism and boosting foreign direct
investment.
According to the IATA representative, a long-term master plan is
also essential to ensure that infrastructure development is
coordinated and aligned with Kazakhstan’s ambition to become a
leading aviation hub in Central Asia.
The development of air transportation is part of Kazakhstan’s
broader efforts to enhance its role in global connectivity.
Alongside rail and road corridors, aviation is becoming an
increasingly important element in expanding links between European
and Asian markets.
