Page 22 - AAA JANUARY- FEBRUARY 2013 Online Magazine

FEATURE kAzAkhsTAn inFRAsTRUcTURE

Kazakhstan Moves on

Aviation Infrastructure

Key aviation stakeholders agree that aviation infrastructure is key to making the
region the “Silk Road in the Sky.” By Neelam Mathews

HISTORIcALLy THE REgION HAS BEEN high-technology and finance, air transport
at the centre of trade routes linking East will play an even bigger role, but turning
and West. “Connectivity has always been potential into reality does not come
a pillar of the economic developments in automatically,” he warns.
Central Asia,” says Tony Tyler, Director Unfortunately, airport infrastructure
General and CEO of IATA, who attended has not kept pace with demand and growth,
IATA Aviation Day in Astana, Kazakhstan and is in danger of being compromised,
in September last year. “Kazakhstan sits noted Tyler. Plans for a new terminal at
between business opportunities in Russia, Almaty have been drawn by government
Southeast Asia, the Middle East, China body Airports Holdings. And the Ministry of
and Europe,” he adds. Transport and Communications developed
According to IATA figures, demand a plan to raise the quality of its airports
for air travel in Kazakhstan grew by 22% and airlines to international standards.
in 2011 (over 2010) while cargo grew by The strategic plan outlines how 15 of
23%. Almaty International Airport has its current 20 airports will be upgraded by
sustained an average traffic growth 2020. By the end of 2012, the upgradation
ABOVE: Kazakhstan offers its flag of 19% for the past five years. Astana of Kokshetau airport will be completed,
carrier Air Astana a warm welcome
OPPOSITE: The signing ceremony of International Airport, with the completion while the upgrades for Taldykorgan,
IATA Aviation Day, held in Astana last of the new passenger building in 2007, Kostanai, Families, Uralsk, Shymkent
September. IATA’s Director general and has been growing at an even greater and Petropavlovsk is planned for 2012–
cEO Tony Tyler is seated in the centre, pace: 23% in 2011. 2014. By mid-2013, all airports must
and Air Astana President Peter Foster “As the government seeks to diversify undergo an independent audit to verify
is on the right the economy with a focus on tourism, the quality of services provided.
22 ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS JANUARY / FERBUARY 2013 WWW.ASIANAIRLINES-AIRPORTS.COM