Almaty, Kazakhstan – TAV Airports has opened the new international terminal of Almaty Airport, completed with a $200 million investment. The first passengers arrived at the terminal with Air Astana’s flight KC664 from London and were greeted with gifts.
Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited the terminal before the first flight and received information from TAV Airports CEO Serkan Kaptan. Kaptan stated that the new terminal would significantly contribute to Almaty Airport, the largest passenger and cargo hub in Central Asia.
New Terminal and Investments
With the new terminal, international traffic will be entirely moved to the new building within two weeks. The existing terminal will be modernized and continue to be used for domestic flights. Additionally, a new VIP terminal was constructed and the fuel system was renewed as part of the investment. With these investments, TAV Airports increased the passenger capacity of Almaty Airport to 14 million annually.
Growth in Passenger and Cargo Traffic
In 2023, Almaty Airport served 9.5 million passengers, a 32% increase. In the first four months of 2024, passenger traffic saw a 30% rise. The airport handled 98,621 tons of cargo in 2023, solidifying its position as Turkish Airlines’ second-largest cargo hub after Istanbul.
Increase in Destinations and Airlines
TAV Airports CEO Serkan Kaptan said, “When we took over, the number of destinations was 38, which has now increased to 69, and the number of airlines using the airport rose from 24 to 35. Almaty will continue to grow as an important stop on the modern ‘Silk Road’ and the Middle Corridor.”
Financing and Support
TAV Airports acquired Almaty Airport in 2021 for $422 million. The capacity increase was achieved with a $200 million investment, financed through a $450 million loan provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), and the German Investment and Development Corporation (DEG).
Service Companies and Technological Innovations
With the new international terminal, TAV Airports also brought its service companies to Almaty. TAV Technologies integrated its own developed software and hardware solutions into the terminal. ATÜ Duty-Free operates with two stores covering 3,400 square meters, while BTA’s food and beverage concepts and primeclass’s two exclusive lounges are also present in the terminal. Havaş will be responsible for ground handling services.
With the new terminal, Almaty will be the first airport to receive the EDGE Advanced certification. TAV Airports aims to be carbon-neutral by 2030 and to achieve zero emissions by 2050.
© www.aerohaber.com | www.tr.aerohaber.com
Note: Aviation news on our news site cannot be used without citing the sourc
