The construction of three new airports in Kazakhstan — in Zaisan, Kendirli and Katon-Karagai — will cost between 68 billion and 89 billion tenge, and they will begin fully serving passengers in the first half of next year, the website infohub.kz reports.
Journalists asked First Deputy Prime Minister Nurlybek Nalibayev to give the specific commissioning dates at a government briefing. The request followed the circulation of conflicting information about the launch dates in the public domain.
According to the deputy prime minister, the airport in Zaisan will cost about 68 billion tenge, the one in Kendirli about 69 billion tenge, and the one in Katon-Karagai around 89 billion tenge.
"I personally visited the construction sites of all three airports and reviewed the progress of the work. In June we issued the relevant instructions. The akims are now also monitoring the construction on a daily basis. By the end of this year we will fully complete construction of the airport in the Zaisan district. We plan to finish construction of the airport in Katon-Karagai in February next year and hand it over for public use. We will also complete construction of the airport in Kendirli by the end of this year and put it into operation," Nurlybek Nalibayev said.
He added that once construction is complete, documents will need to be processed and licenses obtained. As a result, the airports will begin serving passengers and aircraft in the first half of next year.
"They will be fully operational by the next tourist season," the first deputy prime minister added.
It is worth noting that in May this year Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov instructed that the airports in Zaisan, Kendirli, Arkalyk and Katon-Karagai be launched in 2026.