The Pavlodar airport has received its first flight from Astana after a major reconstruction of its runway, reports infohub.kz.
Regular air service with Astana and Almaty has already been restored. To resume full operations, the airport obtained all necessary permits and certificates. On August 17, the aviation security service was certified, and on August 21, the airport received an aerodrome certificate of airworthiness, according to the press service of the Pavlodar region akimat.
The runway reconstruction was carried out in accordance with the instruction of the Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and has become one of the key infrastructure projects in the Pavlodar region. The project cost 16.4 billion tenge, including 9.3 billion tenge from the Special State Fund.
During the works, the runway was completely renewed: its width was increased from 45 to 60 meters. In addition, the lighting and signal equipment were modernized, the video surveillance system was updated, and a new perimeter fence was installed. As a result, Pavlodar now has modern airfield infrastructure that meets current aviation safety requirements and can accommodate a wider range of aircraft.
In parallel with the airfield reconstruction, the Pavlodar region akimat worked to restore and expand regular air service. Vietjet Qazaqstan will operate 4 flights per week to Astana, while FlyArystan will operate daily flights to Almaty. Efforts to expand the route network continue. SCAT Airlines is considering launching flights from Pavlodar to Aktau, Shymkent, and Aktobe. A preliminary agreement has been reached with Centrum Air to launch an international flight on the Pavlodar-Tashkent route starting March 2027. Additionally, the possibility of opening new destinations to Moscow, Novosibirsk, Urumqi, Antalya, and Sharm el-Sheikh is being explored.
"We have been waiting for this moment for a long time. It is of particular importance for the Pavlodar region. Given the region's geographical location, the upgraded infrastructure will enhance its transit potential. Most importantly, we have restored regular flights, and today planes already connect Pavlodar with Astana and Almaty. Now we will consistently expand the flight geography to give residents more opportunities for business trips and travel," said Asain Baikhanov, akim of the Pavlodar region.
Moreover, the airport's development does not end with the airfield reconstruction. The regional akimat has prepared the next major phase: the reconstruction of the terminal building. The project includes increasing the terminal's capacity from 200 to 300 passengers per hour, separating domestic and international passenger flows, installing an automated baggage handling and screening system, building two passenger galleries with jet bridges, and modernizing engineering infrastructure. Importantly, the terminal reconstruction will not affect airport operations. Regular flights will continue as scheduled.
Pavlodar is returning to the map of regional and international aviation. The upgraded infrastructure lays the foundation for further development of air connectivity, business mobility, and the region's tourism potential.