Almaty International Airport[a] (IATA: ALA, ICAO: UAAA) is the largest international airport of Kazakhstan, surpassing Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport (NQZ) in Astana and the largest international gateway into the country. It is a principal hub of Air Astana, the national flag carrier, as well as other domestic and international airlines. The airport plays role in connecting Almaty to the rest of the country and the broader region through its extensive transport links.
In 2023, Almaty International Airport handled a record 9,547,136 passengers, cementing its status as the busiest airport in Kazakhstan.[3] In 2022, it served 7.2 million passengers, with 63% traveling on domestic routes and 37% on international flights.[4] Additionally, the airport managed 88,400 tonnes of cargo in 2022, making it the largest airport in the country in terms of cargo volume.
With a strategic location and modern facilities, Almaty International Airport is major hub for passenger and cargo traffic in Kazakhstan and the wider Central Asian region.
Owners and management
The airport is registered under name of "JSC Almaty International Airport", which is owned by Turkish airport company TAV Airports Holding.
Location
The airport is located approximately 8.1 NM (15.0 km; 9.3 mi) to the north-east of central Almaty, on the outskirts of the city. It is bordered by a mix of open land and residential settlements. The airport is located north of the settlement of Guldala, and north-east of other city districts, including Tbilisskaya and Kolhozshy, all of which lie within the wider region of Almaty.
The airport was built in 1935 for the use of small civil and military aircraft.[5] Till 1990, it was the part of Kazakh Department of Civil Aviation, and then reorganized into "Alma-Ata Airport" in 1991. Since 1993, it has run as an independent business unit. In 1994, it was reorganized into OJSC "Almaty Airport" and later renamed to JSC Almaty International Airport.
The supersonic transport (SST) Tupolev Tu-144 began service on 26 December 1975, flying mail and freight between Moscow and Alma-Ata in preparation for passenger services, which commenced in November 1977. The Aeroflot flight on 1 June 1978 was the Tu-144's 55th and last scheduled passenger service.
Following a runway reconstruction in 1998, Almaty airport was awarded a CAT II certificate and the status of an international airport.
On 9 July 1999, a fire started in the shashlik kitchen of the airport restaurant. The terminal building burned down in just a few hours, but without major injuries.
Development since 2000
Construction of a new terminal was completed in 2004. On 30 September 2008, a second runway was opened with the first departure being a BMI flight bound for London Heathrow. The new runway was also given an ICAO certificate for CAT III landings which will significantly reduce the number of planes diverting to nearby airfields due to low visibility, especially during the winter months. The runway is the longest in central Asia. The new runway can accept all types of aircraft without limitation of take-off weight and operation frequency.
Growth in connectivity is in danger of being compromised by airport infrastructure that is comparatively expensive and not keeping pace with demand growth. IATA is urging the Kazakhstan government to follow ICAO principles and eliminate differential ANSP charges between domestic and international carriers. In 2012, it was 18% more expensive to turn around an Airbus A320 in Almaty than at similarly sized airports in Europe. The differential rose to 43% for a Boeing 767.[6]
There were plans to build a new passenger terminal for international flights with six loading bridges and capacity up to 2,500 passengers per hour in the near future. A developed infrastructure complex consisting of a Marriott Hotel, conference halls, business center, shopping center and cinemas were planned to be within this terminal.[citation needed]
To reduce roadway traffic, the new international terminal was sited across the airport from the existing terminal, which was to be retained for domestic flights. However, construction was suspended in 2010 over disagreements with Air Astana, which often used the same aircraft for consecutive international and domestic flights. The airline said this site arrangement would require such flights to switch terminals, which would mandate crossing the runways, hindering efficiency and disrupting flight operations. A German consulting group hired by the airport reached the same conclusions and recommended the construction of a combined terminal for both domestic and international flights. In 2017, airport leaders announced that the partially completed international terminal would be demolished, and a new combined terminal would be built.[7]
On February 17, 2012, in Moscow, at the 32nd session of the Council on Aviation and the Use of Airspace of the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC), Almaty International Airport was recognized as the best in the CIS and received the prize "For Achievements in the Development of International Airports".[8]
Protesters seized the airport on 5 January during the 2022 Kazakh unrest, halting flights. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said that eight members of Kazakh security forces had been killed and the insurgents had hijacked five airplanes, and he appealed to Russian security forces to retake the facility.[9][10] On 7 January, TASS reported that Collective Security Treaty Organization troops had occupied the airport and restored order.[11][better source needed]
To accommodate new terminal construction, the historic VIP terminal was dismantled in late 2022 with plans to reconstruct it 420 m (1,380 ft) away.[13][14]
The main terminal of Almaty International Airport, originally built in 1973 at 2 Mailina Street, was designed by architects V. P. Ishchenko, O. N. Naumova, Y. G. Litvinenko, and Y. I. Sharapov, with engineering contributions from K. Nurmakova and Z. Sukhanova. Recognized as a historical monument in 1979, it served as a significant architectural and operational hub until its destruction by fire on the night of 9–10 July 1999. The fire, which lasted over seven hours, severely damaged key areas, including the restaurant, waiting room, and duty-free shop, rendering the building unusable. It was subsequently delisted as a historical monument in 2010.
The current Terminal 1 of Almaty International Airport was opened on 29 December 2003.[15] Its construction began in 2000, following the fire, and was completed at a cost of $52.3 million. Designed by M. Montakhaev, the new terminal showcases a dynamic roofline complemented by architectural elements such as large lanterns resembling faceted diamonds encased in stained-glass frames. It was designed with a focus on visual appeal from both ground level and aerial perspectives. In December 2012, an additional building dedicated to domestic flights was commissioned, further enhancing the airport's capacity. The pavilion’s first floor is designated for arrivals of local airlines, while the second floor serves as a storage area for domestic flights.
VIP Terminal
The airport’s business terminal, located at 1A Mailina Street, was originally constructed in 1947 by architects B. Zavarzin and G. Elkin, with input from T. Basenov. Rebuilt in 1957 by architect Kapanov, it incorporated national Kazakh architectural elements, giving it a distinctive oriental aesthetic. The building was restored in 1975 by artist V. Senchenko and underwent further major restoration in 2007 while preserving its historical façade. Recognized as a historical and architectural monument in 1979, it was protected by state law. Despite an attempt in 2018 to delist the building from the historical monument registry, public outcry thwarted the plans. However, the terminal was ultimately demolished in October 2022 to make way for a new terminal. A replica of the building is currently being constructed 400 meters southeast of its original location and will serve government delegations.
Airlines and destinations
Passenger
The following airlines offer year-round and seasonal scheduled flights to and from Almaty:
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. Updates on reimplementing the Graph extension, which will be known as the Chart extension, can be found on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
Annual passenger traffic at ALA airport.
See Wikidata query.
7 July 1980: Aeroflot Flight 4225, a Tupolev Tu-154B-2, aircraft registrationCCCP-85355, crashed shortly after takeoff from Alma-Ata Airport, with the loss of all 156 passengers and 10 crew. Investigators found that the airspeed suddenly dropped because of a downdraft the aircraft encountered during climb out, causing it to stall, crash about 5 km (3.1 mi) from the airport, and catch fire.[59]
29 January 2013: SCAT Airlines Flight 760, a Bombardier CRJ-200ER, crashed during a low-visibility approach into Almaty International. All 21 occupants died. Investigators found that during the missed approach necessitated by the inclement weather, the elevator was deflected to lower the nose instead of raising the nose, resulting in a steep dive and impact with the ground; they were unable to determine the cause of the elevator movement but did not find evidence of any system malfunction or external influences.
