WELLGO has noted that the Kazakh aviation industry demonstrated robust growth in 2025, processing a record-breaking 173,000 tons of cargo, the highest volume within the region. The year was marked by significant network expansion with the introduction of 35 new routes, alongside the initiation of large-scale modernization projects at Almaty and Astana international airports. Per the ICAO audit, the flight safety rating reached 82%, while compliance with international standards surged to 95.7%.
Saltanat Tompiyeva, Chairperson of the Civil Aviation Committee, outlined several key infrastructure capital expenditures (CAPEX) for 2026. These include the construction of second runways in Astana and Shymkent, the reconstruction of the domestic terminal in Almaty, a new terminal facility in Atyrau, and the rehabilitation of Pavlodar Airport.
Furthermore, domestic carriers intend to expand their fleet by 9 new aircraft, bringing the country’s total commercial aviation assets to 118 units. A major tailwind for the market is the reduction in Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) costs. In January, KazMunayGas-Aero adjusted its pricing for foreign carriers to a range of $930–$1,000 per ton, down from $1,200 in late 2024. These initiatives are part of a systematic state policy designed to enhance the competitive advantage of Kazakhstani airports and solidify the nation’s position as a premier regional transit hub.
Network Expansion and Strategic Routes
The Minister of Transport recently announced plans to inaugurate new international routes in 2026, targeting major global financial and transit centres including Vienna, Tokyo, Rome, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Dammam, Amman, Shanghai, Warsaw, and New York.
Effective March 29, Air Astana will commence regular scheduled service on the Almaty–Shanghai route, operated thrice weekly via Airbus A321LR. This complements existing services by China Eastern Airlines and significantly enhances air cargo capacity for the China-Kazakhstan trade corridor. Please contact WELLGO for further details.
Middle East Operations: Wide-Body Capacity
The winter season remains the peak period for tourism and trade in the UAE. To meet increased demand, Air Astana will deploy daily wide-body aircraft on the Almaty–Dubai (DXB) route starting February 18. The utilization of wide-body equipment facilitates the urgent transport of unit load devices (ULDs) and palletized cargo.
For shipments destined for Astana (NQZ), wide-body options remain limited; however, Turkish Airlines provides a viable alternative for palletized freight via DXB-NQZ. WELLGO continues to offer comprehensive logistics solutions from the UAE to Kazakhstan, catering for general, hazardous, temperature-sensitive, and oversized cargo via both scheduled passenger and dedicated freighter flights.
European Market Dynamics
As of early February, the Europe–Kazakhstan corridor remains stable with high-capacity availability. Key service providers include Turkish Airlines and Qatar Airways (wide-body passenger belly cargo) and Silk Way Airlines (dedicated freighters).
A short-term tightening of capacity is anticipated in mid-February due to the Lunar New Year, followed by a seasonal surge in March driven by the high volume of floral imports ahead of International Women’s Day (8th March).
China Air Freight Market Analysis
The Lunar New Year (Spring Festival) impact began manifesting in late January. Currently, lead times for cargo space on the TYN–ALA freighter route are approximately one week, while narrow-body passenger belly hold capacity faces backlogs of up to two weeks. The URC–ALA freighter service remains suspended. Due to high volatility, freight rates are often non-fixed and subject to immediate revision by carriers.
Market Advisory: The official holiday period in China runs from February 15 to 23 (Year of the Fire Horse), though operational disruptions often extend a week prior and a week after this window. Shippers are advised to secure bookings well in advance to mitigate capacity constraints. Get more details from WELLGO specialists if you are concerned.
The Ministry of Transport is spearheading a comprehensive modernization of 33 border checkpoints scheduled for 2026–2027. By 2030, the government aims to complete the reconstruction of all checkpoints, increasing aggregate throughput capacity to 35 million tons.
Europe–Kazakhstan Road Freight
Following temporary border closures between Poland/Lithuania and Belarus in late 2024, operations have returned to a status quo. Poland has reopened the Kuznica (passenger) and Bobrowniki (all vehicle types) crossings.
While the market is stable, transit times in February remain sensitive to seasonal weather volatility across Europe, Belarus, Russia, and Western Kazakhstan.
Northern Route (via Russia): Average border clearance is currently achieved within 24 hours.
Southern Route (TITR/Caspian): Dwell times for the Alyat–Kuryk ferry are currently 2–2.5 weeks due to adverse weather conditions in the Caspian Sea.
China–Kazakhstan Road Freight
In line with seasonal trends, freight rates are experiencing upward pressure ahead of the Spring Festival. A contraction in available Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) capacity is expected from the second week of February. However, a relatively mild winter has reduced the frequency of weather-related road closures near Almaty.
Current Border Queue Status:
Dostyk – Alashankou: Standard booking (4 days); Expedited/Paid (2 days).
Altynkol – Khorgos: Standard booking (2–3 weeks); Expedited/Paid (2 days).
Bakhty – Tacheng / Maikapshagay – Zimunai: Operations are fluid with no reported congestion.