Funding for Khorgos Airport Phase 1 Reduced by 20%

Image: SKYHANSA

Funding for the first of three construction phases of the passenger and cargo airport at the Khorgos – Eastern Gate SEZ has been reduced from $250 million to $200 million. The decision to reallocate financial resources to subsequent implementation stages was made by one of the project’s investors, the Kazakhstani group SKYMAX, following consultations with ScholzvonGleich LLP, who were appointed as independent financial consultants.

The new airport is being constructed in Kazakhstan’s Zhetysu region on the Chinese border to establish a regional aviation cargo hub. The project is managed by the SKYHANSA joint venture, which includes SKYMAX and the German conglomerate HANSA. SKYHANSA signed a framework agreement for the project with the Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan in 2024. In late 2025, authorities allocated 800 hectares of land for the site, where construction has since commenced.

According to the SKYHANSA website, the total project cost was initially estimated at $550 million. The airport is scheduled to become operational in 2027. The first phase includes the construction of a cargo terminal (capacity: 50,000 tons/year), a passenger terminal (capacity: 50 people/hour), and a JET A-1 fuel storage facility (200,000 tons/year).

The second and third construction phases involve investments of $150 million each. Upon completion by 2032, the airport’s capacity is expected to increase to 500 passengers per hour and 250,000 tons of cargo per year.