TAV Airports signed a cooperation protocol with the Government of Kazakhstan for the development of Almaty Airport. The total investment has reached €572 million.
TAV Airports has signed a new cooperation protocol aimed at further developing Almaty Airport, one of Kazakhstan’s largest air transportation hubs. The agreement, signed during President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Astana upon the invitation of Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, became one of the key highlights in the growing economic and strategic relations between the two countries.
The protocol was signed at an official ceremony held in Astana by TAV Airports CEO Serkan Kaptan and Kazakhstan’s Minister of Transport Nurlan Sauranbayev. The ceremony took place in the presence of President Erdoğan and President Tokayev.
Almaty Airport at the Critical Point of the Middle Corridor
TAV Airports CEO Serkan Kaptan emphasized Almaty’s strategic location on the modern Silk Road and the Middle Corridor, stating that the airport continues to experience rapid growth in both passenger and cargo transportation.
Kaptan noted that the primary objective of the investment program carried out at Almaty Airport is to enhance passenger experience and strengthen operational efficiency. He also underlined that TAV Airports represents Türkiye’s expertise in airport operations on a global scale through its portfolio of 15 airports across eight countries. According to Kaptan, the historical and cultural ties between Kazakhstan and Türkiye are being further reinforced through economic cooperation.
€572 Million Mega Investment Program
TAV Airports took over the operation of Almaty Airport in 2021. The company completed its first investment program worth €257 million in 2024, covering the construction of a new international terminal and a VIP terminal.
The second phase of the investment program, currently underway, covers the 2025–2027 period. With the additional €315 million investment package, TAV Airports’ total investment volume for Almaty Airport has reached €572 million.
Record Growth in Passenger Traffic
When TAV Airports assumed operations, Almaty Airport was serving approximately 6 million passengers annually. By the end of 2025, the airport’s passenger capacity reached 11.9 million, highlighting the rapid rise of the Central Asian aviation market.
In the same year, Almaty Airport achieved international recognition by entering the Skytrax “World’s Top 100 Airports” list, based on passenger evaluations.
Strong Operations by Turkish Airlines and Pegasus
As the main hub of Kazakhstan’s flag carrier Air Astana, Almaty Airport hosted operations by 42 airlines flying to 86 destinations across 30 countries as of the end of 2025.
While Air Astana continues its scheduled services to Istanbul, Antalya, and Bodrum, Turkish Airlines operates nearly 50 weekly flights on the Almaty route, including cargo operations. Pegasus Airlines is also strengthening its regional presence with direct flights connected to Istanbul and Antalya.
In addition, FlyArystan, the low-cost subsidiary of Air Astana, recently launched direct flights between Almaty and Gazipaşa-Alanya, marking another sign of growing air traffic between Türkiye and Kazakhstan.
Türkiye’s Global Airport Power Expands Further into Central Asia
TAV Airports’ investments in Almaty are making Türkiye’s influence in the global aviation and infrastructure sectors increasingly visible across Central Asia. According to experts, the expansion process at Almaty Airport is considered a strategic step that will boost both transit passenger traffic and air cargo capacity along the China-Europe logistics corridor.
With increasing passenger capacity, an expanding destination network, and new terminal investments, Almaty is expected to become one of Central Asia’s strongest transit hubs in the coming years.
