Almaty International Airport[a](IATA: ALA, ICAO: UAAA) is an international airport in Almaty, Kazakhstan. It is larger than Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport (NQZ) in Astana and is the main international gateway into the country. It is a principal hub of Air Astana, the national flag carrier, as well as other domestic and international airlines. The airport plays role in connecting Almaty to the rest of the country and the broader region through its extensive transport links.
As of 2024 it is the busiest airport in Kazakhstan (as well as in Central Asia) and 6th busiest in the Post-Soviet states. In 2022, it served 7.2 million passengers, with 63% traveling on domestic routes and 37% on international flights.[3] Additionally, the airport managed 88,400 tonnes of cargo in 2022, making it the largest airport in the country in terms of cargo volume.[citation needed]
The airport is registered under name of "JSC Almaty International Airport", which is owned by Turkish airport company TAV Airports Holding.
Location
The airport is located approximately 8.1NM (15.0km; 9.3mi) to the north-east of central Almaty, on the outskirts of the city. It is bordered by a mix of open land and residential settlements. The airport is located north of the settlement of Guldala, and north-east of other city districts, including Tbilisskaya and Kolhozshy, all of which lie within the wider region of Almaty.
The airport was built in 1935 for the use of small civil and military aircraft.[4] Till 1990, it was the part of Kazakh Department of Civil Aviation, and then reorganized into "Alma-Ata Airport" in 1991. Since 1993, it has run as an independent business unit. In 1994, it was reorganized into OJSC "Almaty Airport" and later renamed to JSC Almaty International Airport.[citation needed]
The main terminal of Almaty International Airport, located at 2 Mailina Street, was originally built in 1973. The building was designed by architects V. P. Ishchenko, O. N. Naumova, Y. G. Litvinenko, and Y. I. Sharapov, with engineering by K. Nurmakova and Z. Sukhanova. In 1979, it was designated a historical monument, reflecting its architectural and cultural significance.[citation needed]
The supersonic transport (SST) Tupolev Tu-144 began service on 26 December 1975, flying mail and freight between Moscow and Alma-Ata in preparation for passenger services, which commenced in November 1977. The Aeroflot flight on 1 June 1978 was the Tu-144's 55th and last scheduled passenger service.[citation needed]
Following a runway reconstruction in 1998, Almaty airport was awarded a CAT II certificate and the status of an international airport.[citation needed]
On 9–10 July 1999, a fire broke out in the shashlik kitchen and raged for over seven hours, severely damaging key areas such as the restaurant, waiting room, and duty-free shop. The damage rendered the building unusable, and it was later delisted as a historical monument in 2010.[citation needed]
Development since 2000
Construction of a new terminal was completed in 2004. On 30 September 2008, a second runway was opened with the first departure being a BMI flight bound for London Heathrow. The new runway was also given an ICAO certificate for CAT III landings which will significantly reduce the number of planes diverting to nearby airfields due to low visibility, especially during the winter months. The runway is the longest in central Asia. The new runway can accept all types of aircraft without limitation of take-off weight and operation frequency.[citation needed]
Growth in connectivity is in danger of being compromised by airport infrastructure that is comparatively expensive and not keeping pace with demand growth. IATA is urging the Kazakhstan government to follow ICAO principles and eliminate differential ANSP charges between domestic and international carriers. In 2012, it was 18% more expensive to turn around an Airbus A320 in Almaty than at similarly sized airports in Europe. The differential rose to 43% for a Boeing 767.[5]
In April 2007, construction began on a new international passenger terminal at Almaty International Airport, designed by the French firm Aeroports de Paris Ingenierie (ADPI). The terminal, inspired by the traditional shape of five yurts, was planned to have six boarding bridges and a capacity of 2,500 passengers per hour. It was part of a larger "Airport City" complex including a Marriott Hotel, conference halls, a business center, and shopping facilities.[6] Located across the airfield from the existing Terminal 1, which was to remain for domestic flights, construction was halted in 2010 following objections from Air Astana. The airline argued that separating terminals would require crossing active runways, causing operational difficulties. A German consulting firm confirmed these concerns and recommended building a new combined terminal to serve both domestic and international flights in a single facility, replacing the partially completed separate terminal. During this period, the terminal was intended to support increased international traffic, including that generated by the 2011 Asian Winter Games, with financing involvement from the Amsterdam Trade Bank. In 2017, the airport announced plans to demolish the unfinished terminal to construct this new integrated terminal, which would eventually replace or work alongside Terminal 1.[7]
On 17 February 2012, in Moscow, at the 32nd session of the Council on Aviation and the Use of Airspace of the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC), Almaty International Airport was recognized as the best in the CIS and received the prize "For Achievements in the Development of International Airports".[8]
Protesters seized the airport on 5 January during the 2022 Kazakh unrest, halting flights. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said that eight members of Kazakh security forces had been killed and the insurgents had hijacked five airplanes, and he appealed to Russian security forces to retake the facility.[9][10] On 7 January, TASS reported that Collective Security Treaty Organization troops had occupied the airport and restored order.[11][bettersourceneeded]
To accommodate new terminal construction, the historic VIP terminal was dismantled in late 2022 with plans to reconstruct it 420m (1,380ft) away.[13][14]
In 1 June 2024, Terminal 2 at Almaty International Airport opened, increasing the airport's potential capacity to 14 million passengers per year. Kazakhstan's Ministry of Transport says that 15 new international routes to 10 countries will be launched.[15]
In 2025, TAV Airports launched the Horizon Investment Project, a comprehensive long-term modernisation plan for Almaty International Airport with a budget of approximately $1.5–1.7 billion. The initial phase (2025–2028) includes runway reconstruction, new taxiways, terminal upgrades, and environmental initiatives such as a reagent recycling system for de-icing fluids. Additional plans feature expanded aircraft parking, a new maintenance hangar, and improved passenger facilities including a hotel and multi-level parking. The project aims to increase the airport’s capacity to 40 million passengers annually by 2050, with future developments including a third runway and a special economic zone for high-tech industries.[16][17]
In 2025, Kazakhstan announced plans to operate new flights to Tokyo starting in February 2026. Direct flights to New York were planned for 2026 but were indefinitely postponed pending new aircraft deliveries and the resolution of restrictions on overflights of Russia.[18][19]
Terminals
Terminal 1
The current Terminal 1 was opened on 29 December 2003, following construction that began in 2000 after the 1999 fire.[20] It was designed by architect Qaldybai Montahaev.[21]
Terminal 2
Terminal 2 at Almaty International Airport opened on 1 June 2024, exclusively serving international flights.[22] Construction began around 2022 after TAV Airports took full ownership.[23] Designed by French firm ADPi and built by TAV Construction, the terminal covers over 53,000 square meters and includes 50 check-in counters, 20 passport control booths, and four automated e-gates.[24]
Located northeast of Terminal 1 and connected by an indoor bridge, Terminal 2 offers modern facilities such as security checkpoints, immigration, duty-free shops, VIP lounges, and a small museum displaying the airport's history. The terminal was built with a focus on accessibility and sustainability, increasing the airport’s annual capacity to 14 million passengers.[25]
Terminal 2 ExteriorTerminal 2 Departures Hall
Airlines and destinations
Passenger
The following airlines offer year-round and seasonal scheduled flights to and from Almaty:
7 July 1980: Aeroflot Flight 4225, a Tupolev Tu-154B-2, aircraft registrationCCCP-85355, crashed shortly after takeoff from Alma-Ata Airport, with the loss of all 156 passengers and 10 crew. Investigators found that the airspeed suddenly dropped because of a downdraft the aircraft encountered during climb out, causing it to stall, crash about 5km (3.1mi) from the airport, and catch fire.[58]
29 January 2013: SCAT Airlines Flight 760, a Bombardier CRJ-200ER, crashed during a low-visibility approach into Almaty International. All 21 occupants died. Investigators found that during the missed approach necessitated by the inclement weather, the elevator was deflected to lower the nose instead of raising the nose, resulting in a steep dive and impact with the ground; they were unable to determine the cause of the elevator movement but did not find evidence of any system malfunction or external influences.[citation needed]
7 March 2024: Mashrapbek Baratov, a 67-year-old man, took a female airport employee hostage and threatened to detonate a bomb. A bystander managed to subdue the attacker. On 16 July 2025, Baratov was sentenced to 11 years in prison.[60]
↑"이스타항공, 4월부터 카자흐 알마티 주 2회 운항…국내 LCC 처음"[Eastar Jet, begins 2 weekly operations to Almaty, Kazakhstan…First in Korea LCC]. Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
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