Second Kazakhstan airport passes international IATA safety audit

Image: CentralAsia+Aero

As anticipated, Almaty International Airport (ALA) has officially secured its ISAGO (IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations) certification. The successful completion of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) audit confirms that ground handling procedures at Central Asia’s largest aviation hub fully comply with stringent global safety and quality standards.

To date, Almaty Airport is the second aviation hub in Kazakhstan—following the capital’s Astana Airport—to hold active ISAGO operator status.

The ISAGO program is a recognized global benchmark in ground operations. During the audit, experts evaluate: the efficiency of the airport’s overall management systems, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), load control and aircraft centralization management, passenger handling and baggage processing, cargo and mail handling.

For Almaty Airport, which is dynamically growing its passenger traffic and expanding its infrastructure, this accreditation significantly boosts its competitiveness on the international stage. An ISAGO certificate is frequently a decisive factor for international carriers when selecting a hub and signing Standard Ground Handling Agreements (SGHA).

The certification coincides with ambitious development plans for the air hub. This week, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Transport, Nurlan Sauranbaev, and Göker Köse, President of Almaty International Airport JSC (a subsidiary of Turkey’s TAV Airports), signed a major investment agreement.

The document outlines the first phase of the large-scale Horizon project, which entails a comprehensive modernization and development program for the airport through the end of 2029. Total investment is slated at 190 billion tenge (approximately US$ 400 million).

Plans for both Almaty and Aktau airports to undergo the ISAGO audit were initially disclosed back in 2024 by Rizwan Siddiqui, IATA Area Manager for Central Asia.

IATA has been placing a strategic focus on the Central Asian region. In line with this approach, the association recently expanded its regional footprint by opening a permanent office in Uzbekistan this past April, complementing its existing regional headquarters in Kazakhstan.

CentralAsia+ Aero earlier reported: Almaty Airport implements digital system for dangerous goods inspection.

CentralAsia+ Aero earlier reported: Michael Daniel appointed as head of the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan.

CentralAsia+ Aero earlier reported: Uzbekistan Airways passes its tenth IOSA operational safety audit.