newstodate.aero
APR 01, 2005 (newstodate): Kazakhstan's new capital Astana Airport has been officially opened, with Air Astana first on the runway.
The airport, managed by Air Astana, will now await certification by ICAO, and plans to implement CAT III landing and runway lighting systems later this year.
Still pending is the issue of the government's demands that foreign airlines must include Astana on their Kazakhstan flights alongside services to the country's other international airport at Almaty that still claims by far the largest catchment area and passenger and cargo volumes.
The airport, managed by Air Astana, will now await certification by ICAO, and plans to implement CAT III landing and runway lighting systems later this year.
Still pending is the issue of the government's demands that foreign airlines must include Astana on their Kazakhstan flights alongside services to the country's other international airport at Almaty that still claims by far the largest catchment area and passenger and cargo volumes.