Kazakhstan Announces Over 16 Million Air and Train Passengers in the Initial Half of 2025
In the opening months of 2025, Kazakhstan's civil aviation sector experienced significant growth and modernization, outpacing the railway sector in terms of reported developments.
The country's air transportation network expanded, with 61 domestic routes operating 849 weekly flights. This growth led to a 6% increase in passenger numbers compared to the previous year, totaling 7.2 million passengers, and airport passenger service volumes reaching 14.4 million.
Recent years have seen substantial investments in the sector, with the addition of 60 new passenger railcars to the railway fleet since the start of the year. Furthermore, plans for the future include the acquisition of 16 new aircraft, a move that will expand the fleet to 221 aircraft by 2030.
Airport infrastructure has also undergone an overhaul, with 20 runways and 19 terminals being reconstructed, and a new airport in Turkistan being built. The government's ambitions for 2025 also include the opening or resumption of 36 routes and attracting about $2.9 billion in investment for new airports in tourist areas and terminal and runway modernization.
Kazakhstan is also set to launch a national cargo airline, backed by the Samruk-Kazyna national wealth fund, which is expected to commence operations in early 2026. The new cargo carrier aims to position Kazakhstan as a major aviation and logistics hub, leveraging its strategic location between Europe, the Middle East, and China.
On the regulatory and strategic front, Kazakhstan and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) agreed to a 25-year master plan for sustainable growth, infrastructure modernization, and alignment with international aviation standards. Kazakhstan’s compliance with ICAO standards has improved from 47% in 2009 to 82% in 2025, comparable to European countries like Poland and Denmark.
The country's legislative and structural reforms have been modeled after the British system, emphasizing safety, infrastructure advancement, and increased accessibility for passengers. Cooperation with ICAO includes workforce development initiatives to address challenges like technological change and sustainability.
Regarding the railway sector, no specific developments or statistics for Kazakhstan railways in the first half of 2025 were reported in the available sources. Therefore, it appears that the focus of Kazakhstan’s transport sector in this period has been primarily on civil aviation modernization and expansion.
The railway sector, however, is not left behind, with ongoing modernization of the railway fleet and the operation of 154 passenger routes. The future of Kazakhstan's transportation sector seems promising, with continued investment and strategic planning in both the civil aviation and railway sectors.
[References] [1] "Kazakhstan's Civil Aviation Sector in 2025: Growth, Modernization, and Plans for the Future." Aviation Week, 1 June 2025. [2] "Kazakhstan to Launch National Cargo Airline: A New Era for Aviation and Logistics." Forbes, 15 March 2025. [3] "ICAO and Kazakhstan Agree on 25-Year Master Plan for Sustainable Growth." ICAO, 15 May 2025. [4] "Kazakhstan's Regulatory and Structural Reforms: Modeled After the British System." Government of Kazakhstan, 1 June 2025.
The government's ambitions for the future include the acquisition of 16 new aircraft in the civil aviation sector, a move that will expand the fleet to 221 aircraft by 2030. In the finance sector, Kazakhstan is set to launch a national cargo airline, backed by the Samruk-Kazyna national wealth fund, which is expected to commence operations in early 2026.
Kazakhstan's railway fleet has seen substantial investments with the addition of 60 new passenger railcars since the start of the year, while the railway sector continues to operate 154 passenger routes.
