ASTANA – Kazakhstan has set an ambitious goal of becoming an international aviation hub, with several of its major airports transforming to compete on the global stage. Yerlan Ospanov, owner of the Saryarka Airport in Karagandy, spoke with Astana Times about what it takes to build a true aviation hub, where Kazakhstan stands today, and whether Karagandy can emerge as a full-scale multimodal cargo hub.
Karagandy Airport dates back to 1934, with the modern Sary-Arka International Airport opening in 1980. Photo credit: the airport’s press service Click to see the map in full size. The map is designed by The Astana Times. Kazakhstan plans to develop aviation hubs in Astana, Almaty, Aktau, Aktobe, Karagandy and Shymkent, with initial efforts focused on infrastructure modernization, including runways, logistics terminals and storage facilities.
Yerlan Ospanov, owner of the Saryarka Airport in Karagandy. Kazakhstan’s civil aviation sector transported 20.8 million passengers in 2025, while airports handled 31.8 million people. Through 2028, the country plans to implement 11 infrastructure projects, including four new airports, two new runways and upgrades at five cities.
The international route network is set to expand to 135 routes across 30 countries, up from 115 in 2024. Within this strategy, Karagandy is emerging as a key cargo hub due to its geographic position and existing infrastructure. The Karagandy Airport has a long history, with its first flights and postal-cargo operations dating back to February 1934.
The development of the aviation hub was closely linked to the expansion of mineral resource extraction in the 1930s. The modern Sary-Arka International Airport was later opened in 1980. Ospanov said its location gives it a distinct edge. “Karagandy sits at a point that enables flights on a six-plus-six or seven-plus-seven hour principle, roughly equidistant from major hubs across Eurasia.
Very few locations on the continent offer that,” he said. According to Ospanov, the airport has much of the necessary infrastructure in place, including runways, cargo terminals, fuel complexes and logistics facilities, enabling rapid capacity expansion. Karagandy Airport is operating as a cargo hub, supported by the arrival of global manufacturers and major freight forwarders building logistics chains through the facility.
While maintaining current volumes, cargo traffic is expected to increase more than sevenfold to 100,000 tons by the end of the year. The airport recently presented a 25-year master plan to develop a multimodal air hub and build the QarGoCity cargo ecosystem around it.
During the presentation, Franz Heuckeroth van Hessen, co-founder and managing director of ACG AirCargo Consultancy Global GmbH, said Karagandy is one of the few locations in Eurasia with favorable conditions for a large-scale cargo hub, citing its central location, available land, unconstrained airspace and ability to develop cargo infrastructure without competing with passenger operations.
“We have developed a comprehensive master plan not only for airport expansion, but as a foundation for a broader logistics and industrial ecosystem. Karagandy has the potential to become a logistics center of Eurasia,” he said.