Kazakhstan's Ministry of Transport has named the projects in its three-year airport infrastructure development plan to 2029. The plan includes three new runways, reconstruction of four runways and construction or reconstruction of passenger terminals at seven airports. The ministry reported this on 31 October 2026 following a meeting; the date of the meeting was not given. According to the press service of the Aktobe region akimat, the meeting was chaired by Vice Minister of Transport Talgat Lastayev.
What the plan includes
New runways: Astana, Shymkent, Aktobe. Runway reconstruction: Almaty, Zhezkazgan, Taraz, Uralsk. Construction or reconstruction of terminals: Aktobe, Atyrau, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Zhezkazgan, Semey, Pavlodar, Urdzhar.
By our count, the list covers 12 different airports; Aktobe and Zhezkazgan appear in both the runway and the terminal lists. For Aktobe's Alia Moldagulova airport the reports mention a new runway and reconstruction of the passenger terminal to increase capacity.
What was said about delivery
The ministry stressed the need to prepare design and estimate documentation on time, identify funding sources and meet deadlines. Local executive bodies and interested organisations were instructed to step up work on the projects. Budgets and funding sources were not named.
Background
In May 2026 a different list was heard at a government meeting: five airports to be modernised within three years — Almaty, Atyrau, Urdzhar, Pavlodar and Aktau. Aktau is not mentioned in the 31 October list. The reports do not explain how the two lists relate. The report on a new runway in Astana does not say how it relates to the plans for a new airport for the capital that the president and the prime minister spoke about.
Not yet announced
Cost and funding sources for each project. Contractors and tenders. Start and completion dates. Terminal type and capacity: construction or reconstruction at each airport. Runway parameters. The status of design and estimate documentation. The date of the meeting.
Our assessment: this is a list of projects, not a funded programme: the ministry itself says funding sources still need to be identified. The list gives the market a guide to where work will appear, but without budgets and timelines it is too early to speak of future contracts. The difference between the May and October lists shows that the make-up of the plan may still change. This is flycentralasia's conclusion, not a statement by the Ministry of Transport.
What businesses can do
Designers, contractors and suppliers of airfield and terminal systems should follow project passports, tenders and funding decisions. Banks and development institutions should request project parameters and the financing scheme. Airlines should ask airports about timing and possible restrictions during work on runways.