newstodate.aero

Jul 01, 2024 (newstodate): Kazakhstan is keen to develop its air connectivity and the country's infrastructure to become an Asia-Europe cargo hub.  
   In line with these aspirations, the Turkish logistics company SSistem has announced the intention to build a multimodal cargo terminal at Aktobe Airport.
   The planned new facility will offer 30,000 m2 terminal space equipped with dedicated sections for hazardous, radioactive and temperature-sensitive  cargo.
   Construction of the terminal is to begin this year, with its completion expected in 2025.
   Aktobe benefits from a strategic location in the north of Kazakhstan on the route from Russia to other Central Asian countries, and is also designated by the government as one of four future multimodal hubs.
   Kazakhstan sees its Open Skies policy as a key instrument.
   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.
   The Open Skies policy now comprises 12 international airports in the cities of Astana, Alma-Ata, Taraz, Chimkent, Aktau, Semipalatinsk, Karaganda, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Pavlodar, Petropavlovsk, Kokshetau and Turkestan, and has also been implemented at the international airport of Aktobe.
   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.