newstodate.aero

Jun 04, 2024 (newstodate): Kazakhstan is fighting to gain a role in the global air supply chain.
   As part of these efforts, a new investor plans to transform Karaganda Sary-Arka Airport into a multimodal hub, aiming at growing the airport's cargo volumes 13-fold.
   Currently, this airport in central Kazakhstan regularly serves cargo flights from Belgium, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, and Ecuador.  
   According to the Head of the Passenger Transport and Highways Department of the Karaganda region, developing Karaganda Airport as a multimodal hub will increase its cargo traffic from the current 15,000 tonnes to 200,000 tonnes by 2030.
   According to Kazakh media, private investors plan to inject about US$270 million in the renovation of the runway and terminal, and the expansion of the cargo hub.
    In November 2019, the Kazakh government announced Open Skies to be implemented for an initial period of three years at 11 airports in the country including Nur-Sultan, Almaty, Shymkent, Aktau, Karaganda, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Pavlodar, Kokshetau, Taraz, Petropavlovsk, and Semey.
   In 2023, the Civil Aviation Committee of the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development of Kazakhstan extended by another five years the open skies' policy at 12 airports of the country until the end of 2027.
   Hopes are that lifting restrictions on foreign airlines by granting 5th Freedom Rights will attract more carriers to operate via Kazakhstan on routes to other destinations in third countries not served by Kazakh carriers.
   TIACA, The International Air Cargo Association, is now organizing an event to take place in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, on June 19-21, 2024, under the banner of "Silk Road in the Sky – Kazakhstan Air Cargo Hub".