The new terminal will boost capacity, strengthening the region’s transport links while supporting economic development. Olzhas Bektenov, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, officially opened the new terminal at a ceremony on site.
The 7,500m2 terminal serves domestic and international flights to cities including Antalya, Turkey, with plans for additional international destinations. Verny Capital and the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation invested $35m in the terminal. Its ownership and management have now transferred to the Kyzylorda municipality.
The new terminal has increased the airport's capacity by seven times to two million passengers per year and created 40 new jobs, significantly improving the economic and social potential of the region by encouraging tourism and investment.
The terminal was built in collaboration with Turkish design company GMW Mimarlik, which brought over 20 years of airport development expertise, including in Istanbul, Riyadh and Riga. The terminal includes a transit zone for connecting passengers, a business lounge, prayer rooms, family facilities, duty free shop, and dedicated staff spaces. It is equipped with advanced technology including self-service check-in counters, an automated baggage handling system and jet-bridges.
Olzhas Bektenov said: “The new terminal at Korkyt Ata Airport is an important infrastructure project, which will open new flight routes, enhance transit capacity, and increase passenger and cargo traffic. All these developments will have a positive impact on the growth of domestic tourism, trade, and the broader economy, and the government continues to give its full support to socially focused business initiatives.”
