KazMunayGas-Aero, a subsidiary of National Company KazMunayGas, has begun refueling aircraft of the US airline National Airlines. Under the agreement, the first into-plane refueling on October 16 was a Boeing 777 freighter operating a Hong Kong — Turkestan — Amsterdam route at Turkestan International Airport, infohub.kz reports.
The contract covers five airports where KMG-Aero operates: Astana, Almaty, Karaganda, Shymkent and Turkestan. This will allow National Airlines to plan landings in different cities across Kazakhstan while using a single aviation fuel supplier.
For cargo airlines flying long-haul routes through Central Asia, reliable supply and fuel quality at intermediate-stop airports are critical. The start of KMG-Aero's cooperation with a major US carrier is a step toward expanding its service footprint for foreign airlines and strengthening the position of Kazakh airports on the international air cargo map.
Turkestan International Airport has modern infrastructure that meets international standards and the capacity to handle growing cargo volumes in southern Kazakhstan. Attracting new international carriers boosts the region's transit potential.
Cooperation with foreign airlines is being developed as part of efforts to strengthen the transport and logistics sector of the economy and enhance Kazakhstan's role as a leading Central Asian aviation hub, in line with the head of state's directives. KMG-Aero plans to expand partnerships with foreign airlines. It currently serves about 50 foreign carriers.
Background: National Airlines is a US airline headquartered in Orlando, Florida. It specializes in cargo and passenger charter services. Its fleet includes Boeing 747 and Boeing 777 freighters. The carrier transports commercial, oversized and specialized cargo.