Astana’s new airport to be developed with Singapore’s Changi

Image: Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is once again bringing in a foreign partner for a major project to develop Astana’s airport infrastructure. The city administration, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport and Changi Airports International (CAI), a subsidiary of Singapore’s Changi Airport Group, have signed a framework cooperation agreement covering CAI’s involvement in the development of a new airport as well as the further development of Astana’s existing airport.

Under the agreement, the parties intend to “jointly implement the Astana new airport project as part of plans to establish an international aviation hub and increase the capital’s transit potential”, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport says. CAI may also participate in the management and operations of the existing Astana International Airport (NQZ), as well as in other areas of its development.

The agreement is currently only a framework for future cooperation. The structure of the partnership, project implementation terms and the necessary documentation are still being negotiated. Financial details of the new airport project and CAI’s specific role have therefore not yet been disclosed.

The need for additional airport infrastructure stems from the rapid growth in Astana’s passenger traffic. In 2025, the capital’s airport handled 9.2 million passengers, an 11% increase year on year, surpassing its designed throughput capacity.

This is Astana’s second attempt to attract foreign investors. In May 2025, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport signed a long-term investment agreement worth $1.1 billion with Terminals Astana Airport Limited, part of UAE-based Terminals Holding. The project envisaged construction of a second runway, a third passenger terminal and a cargo terminal. However, in late 2025, the Astana city government officially announced the termination of the contract with Terminals Holding, after which 100% of the airport’s shares were transferred to the communal ownership of Astana. Terminals Astana Airport Management had been managing the airport under trust management since November 2023.

Kazakhstan is now turning to another international partner. In August, it emerged that Singapore-based Changi Airport Group was interested in participating in the new Astana airport project. During a visit to Kazakhstan, Changi Airport Group executives expressed their readiness to provide expertise for the construction of a new airport and the development of Astana as a regional aviation hub. As a follow-up to those talks, a Kazakh delegation visited Singapore, where the parties agreed on the main areas of future cooperation. The framework agreement is the next step in that process.

For Kazakhstan, the partnership provides access to Changi’s international expertise in airport planning, construction and management. Changi Airports International has experience in more than 90 airports across more than 35 countries, while its parent company, Changi Airport Group, operates Singapore Changi Airport.

The new project, however, remains at the partnership-development stage. The location of the new airport has also yet to be determined. Astana authorities have previously said that several potential sites are under consideration, but no final decision has been made.