7 locations being considered for new airport in Astana

Astana is actively seeking a suitable site for a new airport, with a working group having assessed seven potential locations. Specialists have physically inspected three of these sites, and experts are currently finalizing their conclusions to recommend the most optimal option. A roadmap has been developed to prepare a feasibility study for the new air harbor's construction.

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A Roadmap has been developed for preparing a feasibility study for the construction of Astana’s new airport. Based on the results of the work, the most optimal location for the new airport will be determined.

Details regarding the construction timeline and projected costs are not yet available. The akimat (city administration) explained that these specifics cannot be determined until the exact location is selected. Currently, the akimat is working to clarify the precise location, start and completion dates, preliminary project costs, financing sources, investor composition, estimated passenger traffic, key infrastructure facilities, and preliminary design concepts.

The discussion around building a second airport in Astana has been ongoing for several years, driven by increasing passenger traffic and the city's long-term development plans. Astana Mayor Zhenis Kassymbek first publicly acknowledged the possibility in December 2025, noting that prospective sites were already included in the capital's master plan. In May 2026, Deputy Mayor Yersin Otebayev indicated that several sites were under consideration and a suitable location had been identified for long-term reservation.

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At the current stage, the exact location, start and completion dates of construction, preliminary project cost, sources of financing and composition of investors, estimated passenger traffic, list of main infrastructure facilities, as well as preliminary sketches and visual materials of the project are being worked out and clarified.

However, the selection process has faced delays, with the Astana akimat stating in June 2026 that a final site had not yet been chosen. Most recently, on June 30, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating at a joint session of the Parliament that construction of a new airport in Astana should commence soon and cannot be postponed.

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construction of a new airport in Astana should begin in the near future and cannot be delayed.