On November 12, Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov took part in the opening of Korkyt Ata airport’s new terminal in Kyzylorda.
The launch of the new terminal will increase the capacity of the air harbour from 300 thousand to 2 million passengers per year. The renovated Korkyt Ata terminal meets the high standards of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
“The Head of State in his Address to the Nation called the development of the transport and logistics sector a strategic priority. The new terminal of Korkyt Ata airport is an important infrastructure project not only for the region, but also for the whole of Kazakhstan. Its implementation will open additional air routes, including international ones, increase transit potential, passenger and cargo traffic, which will have a positive impact on the development of domestic tourism, trade and the economy as a whole. The Government will fully support socially-oriented initiatives of business to build modern, high-quality transport and logistics infrastructure — this is a contribution to the future of our country,” Bektenov said.
The terminal with an area of 7500 m2 is equipped with advanced technologies, such as telescopic ladders and automated baggage inspection system. A total of 20.9 billion tenge was invested in the project by the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation within the framework of social responsibility. Over 4.3 billion tenge was allocated from the local budget for engineering and communication infrastructure, construction of a motorway, landscaping and lighting of the airport territory.
Bayan Ajmoldayev, Chairman of the Board of Korkyt Ata Airport JSC, reported on the timeliness of the launch of the terminal taking into account the annually growing passenger traffic in the region. For 9 months of this year the airport served 265 thousand passengers, 20% more than in the same period last year. There are 26 domestic flights per week (17 to Astana and 9 to Almaty). In June, an international charter flight to Antalya (Turkey) was launched.
