Turkish airport operator TAV Airports is expanding its investment in Kazakhstan, raising its total commitment to around $642.5 million as Türkiye and Kazakhstan seek to deepen their economic ties.
On Monday, TAV Airports CEO Serkan Kaptan and Kazakh Transport Minister Nurlan Sauranbayev signed an agreement to expand the company's investment programme in Almaty, building on a cooperation protocol signed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in May.
The announcement comes alongside the 13th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States in Ankara, highlighting growing economic cooperation between the two countries.
Second phase to bring investment to $642.5 million
Kaptan told Anadolu that TAV completed the first phase of its investment programme, worth $288.7 million, in 2024. The project delivered new international and VIP terminals at Almaty Airport.
The newly agreed second phase will involve an additional $353.9 million in investment, with completion targeted by the end of next year.
TAV has operated Almaty Airport since 2021. Its subsidiaries also provide services including food and beverage, duty-free retail, private passenger lounges, hospitality and technology infrastructure.
Passenger traffic nearly doubles
The airport's operational improvements have helped drive a sharp rise in passenger numbers, which reached 11.9 million in 2025 — nearly twice the annual traffic recorded before the expansion.
Growth has continued this year. Almaty Airport handled 9.47 million passengers between January and September, with international passenger traffic rising by 11 percent.
Kaptan described the airport as one of Central Asia's major passenger and air cargo hubs, citing its strategic position along the modern Silk Road and the Middle Corridor.
By the end of last year, the airport served as the main hub for Air Astana and hosted 42 airlines operating flights to 86 destinations in 30 countries.
Kaptan said the airport's growing network was contributing to the development of air transport and economic relations between Türkiye and Kazakhstan.
