The newly inaugurated worldwide terminal at Almaty Airport welcomed its first passengers at present, growing the airport’s annual capability to over 14 million passengers. The airport is striving for 5-star Skytrax ranking and EDGE Superior certification for distinctive passenger expertise and sustainability.
TAV Airports, a member of Groupe ADP, has accomplished a USD 200M funding in Almaty, Kazakhstan’s financial and cultural hub. The brand new terminal acquired its first passengers this morning with the arrival of Air Astana flight KC664 from London.
On Friday, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited the airport, accompanied by Minister of Transport Marat Karabayev, Mayor of Almaty Yerbolat Dosaev, TAV Airports Govt Board Member and Chair of ExCom Franck Mereyde, CEO Serkan Kaptan, and executives from lenders EBRD, IFC, DEG, and EBD.
President Tokayev expressed his gratitude to TAV Airports for finishing the terminal and to the lenders for his or her contributions to the venture.
Worldwide site visitors shall be regularly transferred to the brand new terminal throughout the subsequent two weeks, whereas the present terminal will deal with home site visitors.
A Hub Connecting East and West
Almaty, established in 1935, is now the busiest hub in Central Asia. The brand new terminal boosts the airport’s annual passenger capability to over 14 million, using the newest expertise for operational effectivity and providing world-class providers to reinforce the passenger expertise.
“One of the main transit hubs between Asia and Europe, Almaty Airport is strategically located on the modern Silk Road, established from China to Europe and Africa, as well as the Middle Corridor -Trans Caspian International Transport Route. Kazakhstan is the largest country in the region -both geographically and economically- and Almaty is the largest city in the country producing 20% of Kazakhstan’s GDP,” stated Serkan Kaptan, CEO of TAV Airports.
“Using our extensive know-how and global network, we are boosting air connectivity, creating jobs, and contributing to the sustainable development efforts in Kazakhstan. In just three years the number of destinations almost doubled, number of passenger airlines rose to 37 from 24 and cargo airlines to 16 from nine. We increased direct jobs by 10% last year. This investment will help further our contribution, creating value for all our stakeholders and local communities.”
Strong Passenger and Cargo Progress
Almaty Airport served 6.4 million passengers in 2019 and was among the many quickest to get better from the worldwide pandemic, welcoming 9.5 million passengers in 2023—a 32% year-over-year improve. The airport is a base for flag service Air Astana and Scat Airways.
“Air Astana makes up for more than half of the passenger traffic. Together with Flyaristan, they have an ambitious plan to grow their fleet and introduce new destinations. The new terminal will create capacity to support organic growth while we work to attract new airlines,” famous Serkan Kaptan.
Almaty Airport served 98 621 tons for cargo in 2023 -a historic high- and expects additional development in 2024.
Kaptan stated “Cargo volume is driven by the rise of e-commerce. We are working with the Ministry of Transport to develop the intramodality of the airport by integrating railways into the mix.”
Largest Non-public Airport Funding in Central Asia
TAV Airports holds an 85% stake within the SPV that acquired Almaty Airport in 2021 for USD 422M, with the Kazakhstan Infrastructure Fund, managed by VPE Capital, as a co-investor. TAV secured USD 450M to finance the acquisition and funding, with financing led by the Worldwide Finance Company (IFC) and the European Financial institution for Reconstruction and Improvement (EBRD), alongside parallel loans from DEG and the Eurasian Improvement Financial institution (EDB).
Striving for 5-Star Skytrax Score
TAV Airports plans to reinforce operational effectivity and passenger expertise by integrating its service subsidiaries. TAV Applied sciences has applied IT options throughout the terminal, together with e-gates for seamless passenger movement. ATÜ Responsibility Free will handle outlets spanning 3,400 sqm, whereas Primeclass and Air Astana lounges cowl 2,600 sqm. The F&B choices embrace worldwide manufacturers and native flavors.
“A bridge connects the existing terminal to the new one, providing an easy connection for transfer passengers. We have a masterplan running until 2050s and we are ready to develop the airport further based on traffic increase. In the short term, we will modernize the existing terminal, serving to domestic traffic.”
First EDGE Licensed Airport in Central Asia
As a part of TAV Airports’ sustainability technique, the brand new terminal is designed to attain certification underneath IFC’s Excellence in Design for Larger Efficiencies (EDGE) program, recognizing environmentally pleasant buildings. TAV Airports goals to attain carbon neutrality by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050.
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