Kazakhstan's largest and smallest airports revealed
The Largest Airport in Kazakhstan
The largest airport in the country is located in Almaty.
"It is the largest in Kazakhstan, with two runways measuring 4,400 and 4,500 meters in length and 45 meters in width. These dimensions enable it to handle a wide range of aircraft and a substantial volume of passenger traffic. By the end of 2023, the airport served nearly 9.5 million passengers. It boasts advanced infrastructure, high throughput capacity, and serves as a major transportation hub not only for Kazakhstan but also for the Central Asian region," the Ministry's press service stated.
Almaty Airport expanded its capacity in 2023 with a new passenger terminal of 53,500 square meters, launched on June 1. The terminal can accommodate around 7 million passengers annually.
"With the renovation of the existing terminal (connected via an overhead passage), the total throughput capacity of Almaty Airport will increase to 14 million passengers annually," noted the Civil Aviation Committee.
The Smallest Airport in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan's smallest airport is located in the city of Zaysan, East Kazakhstan Region.
This airport has one of the smallest runways in the country, made of asphalt concrete, measuring 1,502 meters in length and 35 meters in width. In 2023, it served 13,514 passengers.
The Zaysan Airport operates regular subsidized flights on the Ust-Kamenogorsk–Zaysan route. Built in 1979 and operational since 1980, the terminal has a capacity of 50 passengers per hour, spanning a total area of 120 square meters. The airport employs 12 staff members.
Both airports reflect the diverse needs and capacities of Kazakhstan's aviation sector, catering to the bustling urban hub of Almaty and the regional connectivity provided by Zaysan.