Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov held a meeting on the development of aviation hubs and the road transport sector as part of the Head of State’s directives. The meeting was attended by the leaders of the ministries of transport, finance, energy, industry and construction, as well as the akims of Astana and Almaty.

The Prime Minister was presented with a Civil Aviation Development Plan for the next three years, taking into account global forecasts that the global air market will double by 2040. The focus is on ensuring a high level of compliance with the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). According to the results of the ICAO audit, this year Kazakhstan’s compliance rate stands at 95.7%, exceeding the global average of 72.01% and the European average of 87.92%.

The plan provides for large-scale work to modernize airport and navigation infrastructure and expand the international and domestic route network. In addition, the fleet of aircraft will be expanded, and the training system for aviation specialists will be strengthened through cooperation with international training centers.

he meeting addressed the development of air hubs based on the airports of Astana and Almaty. Preparations are underway to develop design and estimate documentation for the construction of a second runway at the capital’s airport. Modernization of the airport includes the construction of cargo and passenger terminals, infrastructure upgrades, and more. Implementation of the strategic Horizon program for the modernization of Almaty Airport will increase its capacity. Planned measures include terminal reconstruction and runway modernization to multiply traffic capacity. A cargo and technical cluster and a service ecosystem will be created at the airport.

The meeting also examined the issue of subsidizing domestic air routes aimed at strengthening regional connectivity. Overall, passenger traffic over the first 10 months of this year increased by 6%, exceeding 13 million passengers.

Participants emphasized the multiplier effect of civil aviation on tourism, trade, regional development, investment attractiveness, and other key areas. According to international assessments, every 100 jobs in the sector create up to 610 additional jobs in related areas of the economy.

Prospects for the development of cargo transportation were outlined to expand Kazakhstan’s freight potential.

The Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Transport, together with the Agency for the Protection and Development of Competition and the Agency for Financial Monitoring, to strengthen efforts to address unproductive intermediaries in aviation fuel supply chains and to intensify work on the implementation of current and launch of new transport projects.

The meeting also reviewed the Ministry of Transport’s approaches to implementing infrastructure projects in road construction. Attention was given to the current condition of the roads and tools for further improving pavement quality.