Kazakh capital’s airport traffic saw 13% increase amidst strategic uncertainty

Image: Astana Airport

Astana Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport (NQZ) reported robust operational growth for the first ten months of 2025, even as its long-term management structure enters a period of renewed volatility.

Operational Performance

From January through October 2025, the Kazakh capital’s gateway handled nearly 7.8 million passengers, representing a 13% year-on-year increase. Growth was balanced across sectors, with both domestic and international traffic segments posting identical 13% gains.

Other key performance indicators also trended upward:

• Flight Movements: Total aircraft movements rose by 14%.
• Cargo & Mail: Throughput increased by 10%, driven primarily by international volumes.
• Transit Traffic: While transit volume grew to nearly 90,000 passengers, it remains a marginal component of the airport’s business model, accounting for just 1.2% of total traffic.

Technical and Safety Milestones

In 2025, NQZ focused on infrastructure and compliance to bolster its international standing. Key achievements included:

• Infrastructure: Completion of critical runway rehabilitation.
• Compliance: Successful reconfirmation of ICAO aviation safety standards.
• Ground Handling: Achieved a 97% compliance rating in the IATA Ground Handling Operational Safety Audit (ISAGO).
• CX Initiatives: Implementation of the ASQ (Airport Service Quality) monitoring program to benchmark passenger satisfaction.

Strategic Turbulence

Despite these operational successes, the airport’s future trajectory is in question. In early November, reports surfaced that the Astana city government and UAE-based Terminals Holding are negotiating the termination of their partnership.

This development follows a series of high-profile agreements. In October 2023, Terminals Holding assumed temporary operational management. This was expanded in May 2025 when a subsidiary, Terminals Astana Airport Ltd., signed a 25-year trust management agreement with the Ministry of Transport. That deal included a projected $1.1 billion investment earmarked for large-scale expansion and strategic modernization.

The status of these ambitious investment plans is now unclear. On November 7, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov convened a special session to address the airport’s future, specifically discussing the search for new investors. The Prime Minister has directed the Ministry of Transport and the municipal government to maintain strict oversight of the project’s transition to ensure continuity in development.