Terminals Holding, a UAE-based global infrastructure and transport group, has announced the signing of a 25-year investment agreement through its subsidiary, Terminals Astana Airport Limited, to manage Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport (NNIA) under a trust management framework. This strategic move marks a new era in the evolution of Kazakhstan’s capital airport and underscores Terminals Holding’s strong confidence in its long-term potential, DKnews.kz reports.
Why Astana? Strategic Rationale for Investment
The decision to invest followed an extensive year-long due diligence process launched in November 2023, immediately after the company took over operational management of the airport. During this period, Terminals Holding conducted a comprehensive assessment of the airport’s infrastructure, operational performance, and financial standing.
Despite significant financial losses in 2023 (over 14 billion tenge), the airport achieved a turnaround under new management, recording a 790 million tenge profit in 2024. This was made possible through a series of operational improvements:
- Optimization of commercial space utilization
- Implementation of cutting-edge airport technologies such as biometric passenger identification and automated security checkpoints
- Introduction of transparent and efficient tenant relations models
- Enhanced services for transit passengers
These efforts resulted in a substantial rise in passenger traffic, growing from 7.5 million in 2023 to 8.3 million in 2024.
A Long-Term Vision: Investing in the Future of Kazakhstan’s Air Gateway
Based on its positive initial results, Terminals Holding is launching a comprehensive infrastructure development program with:
- Direct investments totaling 153 billion tenge
- Up to 393 billion tenge in indirect third-party investments over 25 years
Key Areas of Investment:
- New Runway Construction: A 3.5-kilometer runway built to international safety and efficiency standards, enabling parallel takeoff and landing operations and increasing overall capacity.
- Passenger Terminal Expansion: Enlargement of Terminal T2 and construction of a new Terminal T3. This will boost the airport’s capacity to 15 million passengers by 2033 and 30 million by 2053.
- Cargo Terminal Modernization: Upgrading logistics infrastructure to support cargo throughput growth from 12,000 tons to 130,000 tons annually.
- Fuel Refueling Complex Expansion: Increasing the area from 5.2 to 11.6 hectares to support a higher frequency of flights and ensure uninterrupted fueling services.
- Creation of Aero City: A world-class multifunctional urban cluster adjacent to the airport. Aero City will feature:
- Business and shopping centers
- Hotel complexes
- Exhibition and conference facilities
This innovative cluster will serve as a powerful economic engine, attracting foreign investments, creating new jobs, and contributing to regional economic growth.
No Burden on Kazakhstan’s State Budget
Crucially, 100% of the project funding will be provided through private investment, without utilizing state budget resources. Terminals Holding assumes full financial responsibility for the project.
A Sustainable and Inclusive Partnership
This strategic partnership ensures:
- The ownership of core infrastructure remains with JSC “MANN”
- The Kazakh government continues to receive stable budget revenues
- All current airport employees retain their jobs with guarantees of stable employment
- Implementation of employee training and development programs to support operational excellence
Looking Ahead: Building a Global-Standard Aviation Hub
“We are ambitious and we have big goals. This project will transform Astana Airport into a modern international aviation hub aligned with the world’s highest standards. It will boost Kazakhstan’s global connectivity and strengthen economic ties between the UAE and Kazakhstan.”
With global expertise in airport operations and aviation services, Terminals Holding views this initiative as strategically vital and long-term. The company is confident that its collaboration with JSC "MANN" will become a benchmark for international airport partnerships, delivering long-lasting benefits to passengers, airlines, investors, and the state.
