Kazakhstan to establish national cargo air carrier

Kazakhstan will establish a national cargo air carrier, according to a statement from the cabinet’s press service.

The decision comes amid steady growth in the global air cargo market, which is currently valued at 57.7 million tons. As the ninth-largest country in the world, Kazakhstan accounts for 15% of transit air cargo traffic passing through its airspace.

According to Nurlan Zhakupov, CEO of the state-owned holding Samruk-Kazyna, the initial plan is to lease three aircraft, with the fleet eventually expanding to 10, following common international practices.

«The launch of the first flight operated by the national cargo air carrier is expected in early 2026. To ensure the company’s profitability, necessary measures have been taken to guarantee a stable fuel supply,» the cabinet’s statement reads.

Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov has instructed relevant authorities to expedite all preparatory work needed for the carrier’s creation, emphasizing that the project will help reorient regional transit flows through Kazakhstan.

In late January, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called for the urgent establishment of an international air hub in Kazakhstan, stressing that decisive action must be taken to position the country as a key logistics player.