The development of domestic tourist and logistics routes is one of the priorities outlined by President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in his Message "Fair Kazakhstan: Law and Order, economic growth, public optimism." In this regard, the head of state instructed to start the construction of airports in Zaisan and Katon-Karagai districts of East Kazakhstan region. The construction of air terminals in these tourist-attractive places in the region is a big step towards developing their potential and investment attractiveness. Minister of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan Marat Karabayev got acquainted with the progress of airport construction during a working trip to East Kazakhstan. Currently, design and estimate documentation has been prepared, and qualified contractors have been involved. Construction and installation work is scheduled to begin in May 2025 and be completed in December 2025. Financing of the project, including road and engineering infrastructure, is carried out at the expense of RSE Kazaeronavigation. It is important to note that already at the construction stage, the new airports will have an economic effect in the form of job creation, the use of locally produced materials, and an increase in Kazakhstani content. There are companies in the region that have sufficient experience in the construction and reconstruction of runways and other elements of the airport infrastructure. As the head of the region, Nurymbet Saktaganov, noted, the construction of two airports has great prospects for the development of tourism and other sectors of the economy. The air harbor will become a kind of transport and logistics hub, a link between several districts of East Kazakhstan Region and the regional center. This will ensure the stability of freight and passenger traffic, increase trade turnover, and give a new impetus to the development of local businesses, which means economic growth and improving people's quality of life. - New jobs will be created, the airport will definitely increase the flow of tourists not only from our country, but also from near and far abroad. This will allow the development of new travel brands, because Zaisan district is the gateway to Kazakhstan, and Katon-Karagai district has long established itself as a health resort with pantotherapy and traditional Kazakh medicine. It is here that rural tourism is gaining momentum with its guest houses, horseback riding, and authentic rustic cuisine. Among other things, a ski resort can be created here, because the airport will eliminate the inconvenience of closed roads, and modern equipment will allow flights to be operated in almost any weather conditions," Nurymbet Saktaganov said. More specifically, in the Katon-Karagai district, the airport will be located between the settlements of Belkaragai and Ornek, near the Ust-Kamenogorsk–Rakhmanovskie Klyuchi highway. Katon-Karagai Village is 25 km away, Ulken Naryn Village is 62 km away. In Zaisan district, the airport will be built on the territory of the former Satpai military airfield, near the Omsk–Maykapchagai highway. It will be located 25 km from the city of Zaisan and 85 km from the village of Akzhar. "By the next tourist season, airports in Zaisan and Katon-Karagai districts should already be ready to receive the first flights," said Marat Karabayev, Minister of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan. At the first stage of the large-scale construction, runways with a length of 2,200 meters and a width of 45 meters will be equipped on the territory of the airports, which will allow receiving Q400, ATR 42/72, CRJ200 aircraft. Thus, in East Kazakhstan, air services will cover the settlements of Katon-Karagai, Zaisan and Tarbagatai districts and Ulken Naryn district. It is planned to open direct domestic flights to Astana, Almaty, Ust-Kamenogorsk and Semey, as well as international destinations to China and Russia. And this will have a great economic effect not only for the Katon-Karagai district, but also for the surrounding ones. - In the next academic year, the Saratov College will begin training aviation specialists who will practice at the East Kazakhstan Helicopter Squadron. Our task is to provide new airports with highly qualified personnel," said the head of the region, Nurymbet Saktaganov.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/vko-katon-karagay/press/news/details/966574?lang=kk