Karajanda airport in Kazakhstan places itself as a main transaction center between Asia and Europe, and benefits from its strategic location and its competitive advantages to attract goods’ flows due to geopolitical and economic factors. For Karaganda airport, the expansion of the European market is a natural step.
While Kazakhstan is proud of vast lands, its local market is still relatively small, with a population of only twenty million. “If we want to grow, we need to think globally,” said Erlan Osbanov, Chairman and Caraganda Airport owner.
“Kazakhstan alone is not enough. We need to connect east and west, and Karaganda is placed in the heart of this commercial corridor.”
Instead of targeting a specific European market, the goal of Karaganda is working as a bridge between China and Europe. This is in line with the wider industry trends, as air charging flows due to the increased trade between Asia and Europe, and the disturbances in traditional methods. Ospanov emphasized that there is no ability in global air cargo-especially a shortage of wide-body aircraft on the main roads.
“We see two main issues in the air freight market today: limited capacity and high operational costs,” he said. “Our site allows us to improve roads and provide lower costs, which makes us an attractive alternative to airlines and logistical services companies.”
To face these challenges, Karaganda Airport is working on a comprehensive infrastructure expansion, including:
• The listed promotions to deal with heavier charging aircraft.
• Extensive warehouse and fuel farm facilities.
• Enter a new maintenance, repair and repair facility.
• Simplified customs and organizational support to facilitate the smooth movement of goods. Airlines in Kazakhstan provides an advantage, especially in traffic rights.
Osbanov noted that “the Kazakh Airlines can use our airport as a crossing point, as it managed to reach the restricted traffic rights in another way.”
“This opens new possibilities for tankers looking for costly effective alternatives.” Karaganda Airport, unlike many of the airports run by the country in the region, Karaganda is a private ownership-a great advantage in an industry in which fast decisions and operational efficiency are very important.
“We are dealing with all services at home, which means faster operations and high quality service at competitive prices,” the most prominent Ospanov. “Our jet fuel costs are much lower than they were in many European airports, which makes us an attractive option for tankers looking to reduce expenditures.” In addition, air traffic control fees in Kazakhstan and navigation fees in Kazakhstan provide cost savings compared to other transit corridors, which increases the airport’s attractiveness to global transport companies. Despite its advantages, Karaganda faces competition from familiar charging centers.
“We are still relatively young compared to the giants in this industry.” “But every main center begins somewhere, and we are committed to building a strong foundation for long -term growth.” He admitted that the airport’s infrastructure still needs investment, with plans to expand shipping facilities and improve delivery with the surrounding areas. In addition, the organizational environment in Kazakhstan is developing, and Ospanov stressed the importance of cooperation with the government to create a more suitable framework for shipment.
The main plan
The vision of Karaganda airport extends in the long run beyond being just a crossing center. Ospanov revealed plans to develop a “goods city” on a large scale, with the airport as a central logistics axis surrounded by storage, manufacturing and shipping facilities. “Our main plan extends from 20 to 30 years, ensuring that we have an organized road map for sustainable growth,” he explained. “We want to create a comprehensive logistical ecosystem where companies can store, process and distribute goods smoothly.” • The main elements of the main plan include the following: • Expanding charging stations and storage facilities. • Additional taxi corridors and fuel infrastructure. • Merging new technologies to deal with digital goods.
While five years are a short time in the aviation industry, Ospanov has been sure that Karaganda airport will become a known name in global logistics.
“In the next five years, we will not compete with the largest players, but we will be founded as a main transit center that international transport companies trust,” he said.
“We are not trying to replace traditional shipping centers – we offer a strategic alternative that enhances global communication.”
