eVTOL demonstration flight debuts in Kazakhstan’s capital

Image: Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is accelerating its push into Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and the development of a national “low-altitude economy.” On July 24, the country hosted its first public demonstration flight of an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in Astana.

Organized by local firm Alatau Advance Air Group Ltd. (AAAG) and Chinese manufacturer AutoFlight—following initial flight tests in May at the Alatau tech hub near Almaty—the demonstration took place at the Kazanat Racetrack. The demo utilized AutoFlight’s six-passenger Prosperity aircraft, operating without passengers to meet regulatory safety standards.

Kazakhstan aims to position itself as the UAM market leader across Central Asia and the South Caucasus by becoming the first state in the region to launch commercial air taxi operations. Market entry is currently projected for late 2028 at the earliest. Reaching commercial viability will require resolving key operational hurdles, including drafting regulatory frameworks, building ground infrastructure, securing aircraft type certification, and training workforce personnel.

Initial regulatory milestones are already underway. In late June, the President of Kazakhstan signed amendments to national aviation laws to facilitate the safe integration of UAM assets into the airspace. The updated framework establishes oversight for eVTOL operations, vertiport facilities, and unmanned traffic management (UTM) platforms, alongside defining certification standards for operators and digital infrastructure.

Alatau, a new satellite city near Almaty, serves as the primary development hub for the initiative. Operating under a specialized regulatory framework, the site is already hosting construction of the country’s first vertiport

“We are building a fundamentally new sector in the low-altitude economy,” noted officials from Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development. “Establishing modern infrastructure—including smart vertiports and digital air traffic management—will reshape Kazakhstani urban mobility and solidify our status as a regional technology leader.”

CentralAsia+ Aero earlier reported: Kazakhstan establishes legal framework for eVTOL operators and Urban Air Mobility.

CentralAsia+ Aero earlier reported: An-2 biplane crashes during agricultural operations in Kazakhstan.