18/06/2025
Euronews, a leading international news channel broadcasting 24/7 to over 400 million viewers in 160 countries, spotlighted Kazakhstan’s strategic steps toward modernizing its aviation infrastructure, expanding route networks, and enhancing flight safety standards.
Vice Minister of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Talgat Lastayev, spoke in detail about how Kazakhstan is steadily strengthening its position as a regional aviation hub. He noted that over the past five years, the civil aviation sector has been growing at a rate of 10–15% annually. The country is actively investing in infrastructure: new international terminals have been built, and Almaty Airport — the largest in Central Asia — is undergoing major expansion with $302 million in planned investment by TAV Group. Another major project is the development of Aktau Airport, which is expected to attract over $1 billion in investment.
According to Lastayev, Kazakhstan’s aviation sector is on the verge of a major transformation. Over the coming years, the industry is projected to triple in size, with a strong emphasis on digitalization, technological advancement, and service quality.
Kazakhstan aims to become a key hub for both passenger and cargo traffic across the region. The country’s geography and vast territory also provide an ideal environment for developing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) projects and launching air taxi services, paving the way for Kazakhstan to become not only a regional leader but also a global player in the aviation industry.
Among other notable guests in the program was Peter Foster, President of Air Astana, a leading airline in the region and the first and only publicly listed national carrier in Central Asia. Foster emphasized that the company’s success stems from strong cost control, high service standards, and a steadfast commitment to safety. Air Astana is rapidly expanding its international partnerships and strengthening its presence in global markets.
Nurlan Zhakupov, Chairman of the Board of Samruk-Kazyna (the National Welfare Fund of Kazakhstan), also appeared on the program. He highlighted that Kazakhstan currently operates a network of over 70 routes, with Air Astana acting as a major driver of regional economic growth. Zhakupov also announced the entry of several international low-cost carriers into the Kazakh market — including India’s SpiceJet, South Korea’s Eastar Jet and T'way Air, and Thailand’s AirAsia X. The Samruk-Kazyna Fund continues to oversee and manage large-scale aviation projects in the country.