This morning marked a historic moment for the Kostanay region and the entire country. For the first time in years, direct air service to Arkalyk officially resumed. The first flight departed from Astana at 9:00 AM and landed in Arkalyk at 9:50 AM. A journey that once took hours now takes just 50 minutes. Moreover, the city is now connected by regular flights not only to the capital but also to Almaty and Kostanay, fully meeting the region's transportation needs, as reported by infohub.kz.
According to the Kostanay regional administration, the airport was filled with a festive atmosphere—passengers boarded the plane with genuine enthusiasm, and the emotions of those greeting them were overwhelming. A highlight of the inaugural flight was a vibrant musical performance by artists from the Musical Theater for Young Spectators, who had been performing in Astana, right on board the aircraft and in Arkalyk itself. Passengers were welcomed with traditional shashu, music, and heartfelt songs. A special symbol of the celebration was the performance of the legendary song "Arkalyktyn ak tany" by Shamshi Kaldayakov and Mukhtar Shakhanov, written after their trip to the Torgay region in the 1970s.
"Honestly, tears well up in my eyes. We've waited so many years for this day! Now everything will be very good for us, thank you to the president! The city is coming alive, and there's hope and confidence that we are not forgotten," shared a resident of Arkalyk. The resumption of flights is a direct implementation of the instruction from the head of state, Qasym-Jomart Toqaev, for the comprehensive development of the Torgay region. The region's main gateway has prepared thoroughly to receive the aircraft.
"The new airport has received all necessary certificates for aviation safety, air navigation services, and airfield suitability. It is fully ready to receive regional aircraft such as the CRJ200. Following a competitive tender, the carrier selected was SCAT Airlines," said Talgat Lastaev, Vice Minister of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Summing up the work done, regional leadership emphasized the systemic nature of the ongoing changes.
"The revival of Arkalyk airport and the launch of direct flights are a practical implementation of the president's instructions. The head of state pays special attention to single-industry towns. As part of this work, a new passenger terminal and all necessary infrastructure have been built," noted Berik Tanzharikov, Deputy Akim of Kostanay region. The airport opening is a significant milestone in the comprehensive renewal of Arkalyk. Earlier, the city's railway station was reconstructed, and construction continues on the strategic "Center-West" highway. In parallel, social facilities are being restored, utility networks upgraded, roads repaired, and public spaces improved.
The main victory of these large-scale changes is the shift in people's mood and the faith of young people in their native land. "I was seriously planning to leave the city. But when I saw how Arkalyk is developing—roads being repaired, facilities restored, and now flights to Astana, Almaty, and Kostanay brought back... I realized I'm staying. Now the city has a future, and I want to live and work here. Justice has prevailed thanks to the president," admitted one of the young passengers on the first flight. The inaugural flight and the large-scale infrastructure renewal have proven a key fact: thanks to the attention of the president and the state, Arkalyk is confidently entering a new era of its development.