WEEKLY NEWS


HOW ALMATY AIMS TO ANCHOR EURASIAN TRADE


BY Anastasiya SIMSEK


WHEN Russia’s invasion of Ukraine closed off one of the world’s busiest air corridors, Central Asia suddenly found itself at the centre of east–west logistics. Routes that once bypassed the region were forced south, and the “Middle Corridor” - long treated as a geopolitical talking point - became an operational reality. For Goker Köse, President and CEO of Almaty International Airport, that shift is still playing out. “Under Covid-19 it was more of a concept, but starting from Covid and


after the closure of Russian airspace, it became a mutual reality that the countries located in this corridor are gaining more and more attraction,” he told delegates at the Caspian Air Cargo Summit in Baku.


02


A region repositioned Kazakhstan is geographically unavoidable: the ninth-largest country in the world, it sits on the land bridge between China and Europe. But for years, the lack of modern infrastructure kept Central Asian airports on the margins of the air cargo map. Now, as trade flows reroute, airports from Baku to Tashkent are racing


to upgrade facilities. Almaty, the country’s main cargo hub, is positioning itself as a central node. The airport handled around 130,000 tonnes of freight last year, supported by carriers including Turkish Cargo, Silk Way West, Lufthansa Cargo and a growing roster of Chinese airlines.


Caspian Air Cargo Summit Köse sees this as only the beginning. “Kazakhstan has become one of the leading actors in the air cargo business in Central Asia,” he said. “We don’t see our neighbouring airports as competitors, but as complementary to the service we are providing.” That collaborative stance is unusual in a sector defined by sharp


rivalries. But in a region still piecing together supply chains and trade corridors, cooperation may prove more realistic than competition.


Almaty’s cargo bet The airport is not leaving growth to chance. A series of projects is already in motion to expand and modernise facilities. In July, work began on a US$200 million overhaul of airfield infrastructure: runway reconstruction, new taxiways, an expanded de-icing platform and a cargo apron with capacity for 10 widebody freighters. The cargo terminal itself has been re-equipped to handle sensitive


products, with new cold storage and a radioactive materials room. Pharma, perishables and high-value goods are all being targeted. Köse’s ambition is clear: “Our aim is to reach 200,000 tonnes in the coming years.” That is part of a much larger 25-year, US$1.5 billion masterplan that foresees passenger and cargo growth quadrupling capacity. The airport’s


owners - TAV Airports and its parent company Groupe ADP — are betting that Almaty can transform from a Soviet-era facility into a modern Central Asian hub.


Structural headwinds Not everything can be solved with concrete and steel. One of the biggest constraints in Kazakhstan has been fuel. For years, limited refinery capacity and high VAT distorted the domestic jet fuel market, forcing carriers to tanker fuel from abroad or pay inflated prices. Köse acknowledged the challenge but pointed to progress. A VAT reform


has eased costs for carriers, while fuel imports from China are starting to balance supply. “The government is aware, and steps have been taken. It is not solved overnight, but we are moving in the right direction,” he said. The airport is also preparing to align with broader sustainability trends.


Electrification of ground support equipment is underway, and Köse signalled that Almaty is watching carefully how EU and US regulators approach carbon accounting for transit hubs. For a market that relies heavily on overflight and technical stops, these rules could be decisive.


A fragile opportunity Central Asia’s logistics renaissance depends on sustained investment, political stability and the ability to deliver reliable, efficient services at scale. Infrastructure plans are ambitious, but execution will be the test. For now, Köse remains optimistic. “We believe this is only the start,” he


said. “Kazakhstan has a strategic location, and Almaty can play a leading role in connecting east and west.”


Did You Know ? A COCK AND BULL STORY BY Michael SALES


During the long-distance coaching era of


the 18th and 19th centuries, when


news was frequently passed on and discussed, the town of Stony Stratford in Buckinghamshire became a vital staging post. Located roughly halfway between London


and Birmingham, as well as


between the east and west of the country, it acted as a hub for stagecoaches.


It


was served by two inns, the Cock and the Bull, where weary travellers could refresh themselves or drown their sorrows while exchanging news and gossip. The two establishments competed with each


other for customers, spreading


news, gossip, and scandalous revelations. Without doubt, just as today’s fake news is spread via social media, so exaggerated


or false tales became prevalent between rival groups. The phrase 'a cock and bull story' evolved from these exchanges: a highly dubious or even totally false piece of news. The transport hub concept dates back to Roman times with their system of a post office network, but the first attempts at commercial aviation soon needed the same kind of hub networks. During


the 1920s, the German


government decided to promote aviation development, followed by the British, the Dutch, the Russians, and the French, keen to enhance communications with their far-flung empires. However, the United States, with its established rail network, had less interest in aviation as an urgent travel medium, though delivering mail was important. The famous Lindbergh flight in


1927 ignited the passion for US air travel. It was the French who invented the terminology


with words such as


'aérodrome' and 'airport.' Early airports were very simple structures, or even tents. Protective hangars for the fragile canvas-covered aircraft were the most pressing need. Several airfields were established throughout notably


Europe during this Amsterdam Schiphol, era, Berlin


Tempelhof, and London Croydon. In the US, the Air Commerce Act of 1926 created a national network of airports with hard runways,


including Chicago,


Newark, and Ford Airport at Dearborn, Michigan. Mail and news were a major


ingredient


of aviation, just as in the previous era— though perhaps with less fake news?


ACW 06 OCTOBER 2025 www.aircargoweek.com


T: +44 (0)1737 906107


Advertising: sales@azurainternational.com Subscriptions: subs@azurainternational.com Press releases: news@azurainternational.com


The ACW Team Editor:


Supplement Editor: News Reporter:


Regional Representative (APAC):


Edward Hardy James Graham


Anastasiya Simsek Ajinkya Gurav


Regional Representative (North America): Oscar Sardinas Associate Editor:


Director of Operations: International Media Sales Director:


Chris Lewis Kim Smith


Rosa Bellanca


Senior Publishing And Events Manager: Chris Richman International Sales Executive: Finance Manager:


Design & Production Manager: Production Supervisor: Website Consultant: Managing Director:


Zainab Khalid Rachel Burns Alex Brown Kevin Dennis


Tim Brocklehurst Steven Polmans


Annual subscription rates: Print issue: £150 • € 180 • US$195 (20% will be donated to our NGO sustainability projects) Digital issue: Free-of-charge


AZURA INTERNATIONAL


The views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Whilst every care is taken, the publishers cannot be held legally responsible for any errors in articles or advertisements. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by electronic, mechanical, photographic or other means without the prior consent of the publishers. USA: The publishers shall not be liable for losses, claims, damages or expenses arising out


of or attributed to the contents of Air Cargo Week, insofar as they are based on information, presentations, reports or data that have been publicly disseminated, furnished or otherwise communicated to Air Cargo Week. © AZura international 2024 • ISSN 2040-1671 - Printed by Warners Midlands plc. The Mailing, Manor Lane, Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 9PH


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16