Astana - international airport: history, current state, prospects

Kazakhstan takes advantage of thetransport system location, linking Europe and the US with Asia. The second largest in the country is Astana International Airport. Further, its history, modern parameters and prospects are considered.

History

The airport in Astana appeared in 1930., then it was called Akmola. The airport included a square airstrip, a station represented by a building for 8 rooms, an air sampler, a two-room structure for pilots, a basement gasoline storage. A pedestrian trail and a ferry connected him to the city. For the time of floods the airport was closed.

The first settlement, which wasestablished regular air service of Astana, next year became Semey (then Semipalatinsk). The aircraft were transported by K-5, P-5, K-4, PR-5, P-2.

Since 1946 Here the PO-2 of the Karaganda aviation enterprise was permanently based. On the basis of this in 2 years, a link was formed from the three postscript PO-2 specialists, included in the Karaganda air squad.

By that time, the equipment andexpanded the airport: erected a Finnish house for a radio station, a garage and 3 adobe houses. The number of staff increased from 40 to 50 people. They began to take heavy aircraft Li-2.

In 1951 lengthened the runway and began to plant Il-12 and Il-14. In 1954, formed a squadron, and the park replenished An-2 and Yak-12. Since 1956 the round-the-clock work has begun, and the Akmola united air squadron has been created. In 1959, the network of overhead lines significantly increased with the advent of AN-2 aircraft. The next year the airport gained class 3.

In 1961, he received the first LI-2 aircraft. In 1963, the functioning of the new airport began, which changed its name to Akmolinsk together with the city. In 1969 the volume of transportations has considerably increased, and the transport network with reception АН-24 has extended.

Since 1975, the flight from Alma-Ata began via Tselinograd (Astana) to Moscow and back to TU-154.

Of great importance was the fact that the status of the capitalinstead of Alma-Ata, Akmola (Astana) was found. After that, the international airport was reconstructed: the runway, the apron, taxiways, replaced the radio navigation and lighting equipment, reconstructed the terminal, built the VIP building.

From 2002 to 2005, another reconstruction was carried out, including the creation of a new passenger terminal.

Since 2013, Astana International Airport is operated by the Kazakhstan Temir Zholy Airport Management Group. Now it is being reconstructed.

Current state

JSC "International Airport of Astana" issecond in the country by domestic air transportation after Almaty. It has one runway, capable of taking any aircraft. Kazakhstan is characterized by an annually increasing passenger turnover of air transportation, including Astana. The international airport reached in 2015 this indicator of about 3.4 million people. The number of departures is up to 40 per day. The capacity is 750 people and 600 tons of cargo per hour. The airport serves 14 airlines and provides communication with all regional centers of Kazakhstan, as well as with various cities of the world.

Problems

Airport Management Group with the receipt of managementover several airports in Kazakhstan conducted a study of their condition and functioning for the subsequent reconstruction. The JSC "International Airport Astana" was also studied. The responses of visitors, journalists and akim, Adilbek Dzhaksybekov, testified about such problems as the long queues at passport control, unstable work of the program, high prices, ignorance of the staff of foreign languages, etc. This was particularly critical in the context of the fact that in 2017 in Kazakhstan will host the EXPO exhibition. The venue is Astana. The international airport, therefore, will accept the majority of its visitors. This will increase passenger traffic, which already has difficulties.

Reconstruction

On the basis of this, the already implementedthe project of reconstruction of the airport "Astana". The international airport will first of all receive a new terminal, the capacity of which will be 4 million people per year. With the introduction of its operation, the total passenger turnover will double (to 7 million people per year), and the old terminal will be transferred to domestic flights. The system of passport and customs control has been replaced to simplify their passage. In addition, it is planned to improve the quality of service. To this end, the Airport Management Group cooperates with world leaders in providing passenger services (Swiss Post) and providing on-board catering (Gate Gourmet). Thanks to this, the quality of service and food will be improved both at the airport and in airplanes. At the same time it is supposed to reduce prices in shops and cafe of the airport. In addition, they plan to organize a taxi and improve transport connections with the city.

Finally, it is possible to introduce the "open sky" rule, through which the airport revenues will rise from the service of foreign airlines that can fly without agreements and restrictions.

In addition, the expediency of creating an international air hub in Astana is being considered.