Kokshetau International Airport Халықаралық Көкшетау Әуежайы Halyqaralyq Kökşetau Äuejaıy | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
| Owner | Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development[1] | ||||||||||
| Operator | JSC "Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport" | ||||||||||
| Serves | Kokshetau andBurabay National Park | ||||||||||
| Location | 8.1 NM (15.0 km; 9.3 mi) NE ofKokshetau,Akmola Region,Kazakhstan (inside city limits) | ||||||||||
| Opened | 1945; 80 years ago (1945) | ||||||||||
| Hub for | Air Kokshetau (defunct) | ||||||||||
| Time zone | ALMT (UTC+06:00) | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 271 m / 888 ft | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 53°19′48″N069°35′48″E / 53.33000°N 69.59667°E /53.33000; 69.59667 | ||||||||||
| Maps | |||||||||||
  KOV/UACK KOV/UACK (Asia) Show map of Asia KOV/UACK KOV/UACK (Eurasia) Show map of Eurasia | |||||||||||
 Interactive map of Kokshetau International Airport | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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| Statistics (2020) | |||||||||||
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| Source:AIP Kazakhstan[2] | |||||||||||
Kokshetau International Airport[a] (IATA:KOV,ICAO:UACK) is aninternational airport inAkmola Region,Kazakhstan. It is the primaryinternational airport servingKokshetau, and also the nearest to theBurabay National Park andKokshetau National Park.
Opened in 1945, it is theseventeenth-busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic inKazakhstan, with 21,683 annual passengers as of 2019. The airport is located 8.1 NM (15.0 km; 9.3 mi) north-east[2] from the centre of Kokshetau, the capital ofAkmola Region in the northern part ofKazakhstan.
The airport began its new operational phase on 21 October 2013, with new building and runway structure, replacing old structure on the same site. The airport features one fully reconstructedpassenger terminal and one runway, which handles both domestic and international operations.[3] The airport is served year-round byQazaq Air andSCAT Airlines, and was formerly a hub forAir Kokshetau operations which was also headquartered in the city.
The main route is the service toAlmaty, operated by Qazaq Air. The airport is managed by JSC "Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport", agovernment-owned corporation that managesAstana Airport. The facility opened in 1945; 80 years ago (1945) asKokchetav Airport (the airport's currentIATA code,KOV, is derived from the city's previous name of Kokchetav).
Kokshetau International Airport is 8.1 NM (15.0 km; 9.3 mi) north-east ofKokshetau city centre. The airport is approximately 195 kilometres (121 mi) away fromPetropavl and 295 kilometres (183 mi) fromAstana. It is bordered by thevillage ofKyzyltan to the east, Myrzakolsorlake to the north,Stantsyonny village to the west, and the village ofAkkol to the south. It is primarily served by theNational Road A13, however it is also accessible via the nearbyA1 orA343 motorways.
The airport was constructed as a replacement for the former Kokshetau Airport that was located to the north of the city as a small grass airfield with a relatively short runway. The facility opened in 1945; 80 years ago (1945) and was formerly known asKokchetav Airport,Kokshetau was known as Kokchetav at the time. It was renamed Kokshetau Airport in 1993; "International" was added to the name in 2013. In 1960,Aeroflot was flying dailyIlyushin Il-12 jet service on a round trip routing of Alma-Ata (nowAlmaty) –Balkhash –Karaganda – Akmolinsk (nowAstana) – Kokchetav (now Kokshetau) – Sverdlovsk (nowYekaterinburg).[4]
Also in 1963/1964,Aeroflot was operating 761 service on a round trip routing of Karaganda – Tselinograd (now Astana) – Kokchetav – Kustanai (nowKostanay) –Chelyabinsk – Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg) withLisunov Li-2 aircraft.Aeroflot served the airport during the mid 1964s withIlyushin Il-14 aircraft flying a routing of Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg) –Kurgan – Petropavlovsk (nowPetropavl) – Kokchetav – Tselinograd – Karaganda – Alma-Ata. In 1961,Aeroflot had service toMoscow via stops at Petropavlovsk, Kurgan, Sverdlovsk,Kazan flying anIlyushin Il-14 (with total flight time of about 15 hrs.).[5] In the early 1980s, the airfield was one of the reserve landing sites for thereusablelow Earth orbitalspacecraft systemBuran.
Kokshetau Airport served as ahub forAir Kokshetau from 2002 to 2008. In 2004,Aero Flight, aGerman airline, was operating international non-stop seasonal service between June and August fromFrankfurt (IATA:FRA), Germany toKokshetau.[6] In 2010, the airport underwent major reconstruction, including reconstruction of the passenger terminal building and modernization of the runway.[7] Renovation and modernization of the airport was completed in 2013. The new passenger terminal opened on October 21, 2013, and was also granted an international status.[8]
The first new airline to start international scheduled flights after the comprehensive reconstruction of the runway and passenger terminal from Kokshetau wasTransaero operatingBoeing 737-700 jets between Kokshetau andMoscow—Vnukovo (IATA:VKO), Russia.[6] This flight was discontinued for summer 2016 season, as Transaero filed for bankruptcy. In 2017, as a consequence of the collapse of Transaero,S7 Airlines resumed nonstop flights toMoscow and operated a flight between Kokshetau andMoscow—Domodedovo (IATA:DME), Russia, using theAirbus A319-100 narrow body jetliners once a week for summer season.[9] This lasted until September 2018, whenS7 Airlines cancelled the flight.[10] In late-May 2019,IrAero resumed summer season service to Moscow and operated a flight toMoscow—Zhukovsky (IATA:ZIA), Russia on theSukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft[11] On 12 March 2020,FlyArystan launched three weekly flights to its hub atAlmaty usingAirbus A320-200 aircraft.[12] On 22 July 2021,SCAT Airlines introduced thrice-weekly subsidized inter-republican air services toHazret Sultan International Airport inTurkistan Region.[13]
The airport was the primary hub ofAir Kokshetau. It has one passenger terminal. In 2018, it served 21,427 passengers, a decrease of 2.7% compared to 2017, making it the seventeenth-busiest airport in Kazakhstan. The busiest single destination in passenger numbers isAlmaty.
The airport resides at anelevation of 271 m (889 ft) abovemean sea level. The airport has a single activerunway in use designated02/20 with anasphalt/concrete surface measuring 2,850 m × 45 m (9,350 ft × 148 ft). The airport is equipped with a Category I (both directions)Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach to guide landing aircraft safely under very poor weather conditions and also allowing planes to land in low visibility conditions, such asfog. The airport is able to accommodate jets the size of theIl-76,Boeing 747. It can also accept light aircraft and helicopters of all types. However, smaller jets like theAirbus A319-100,Airbus A320-200,Boeing 737-500 andCRJ-200 are more commonly seen there.[3]
| Direction | Length | Width | Surface | Operational years | Last major improvement | Usage | ILS | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02/20 | 9,350 ft 2,850 m | 149 ft 45 m | Concrete/asphalt | 1945 - Current | 2013 | Primary runway | Cat. I (both directions) | The new extended runway is 2,850 metres long, with supporting taxiway systems. The runway is dedicated for arrivals and departures.[14] |
| Terminal | Opened | Floor area | Handling capacity | Parking bays |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International passenger terminal | 1945; 80 years ago (1945) | 8,551.6 m2 | 200 passengers per hour | 2 (aerobridge) 6 (remote) |
| VIP/CIP | 21 October 2013; 12 years ago (2013-10-21) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
The airport features a single, two-storey passenger terminal building that accommodates both domestic and international operations. The mainpassenger terminal building was built in 1945; 80 years ago (1945), and has been expanded as well as upgraded to modern standards by undergoing comprehensive renovation since its original construction. The renovation project's implementation was started in 2010. The opening ceremony of the upgraded passenger terminal took place on October 21, 2013; 12 years ago (2013-10-21), with an area measuring 8,552 square metres (92,050 sq ft).
The airport's old and new renovated passenger terminal building were designed by RDSI “KazAeroProject”, a Kazakh research, design and survey institute which also designedAlmaty International Airport.[15] The passenger terminal has a capacity of 200 passengers per hour and is equipped with a gallery landing with two gates toair-bridges and six gates to apron buses, 1 escalator and 1 lift.[3]
The first international commercial flight to depart at the new passenger terminal was UN224 toMoscow, Russia at 08:00 am (UTC+6), December 14, 2013, operated by the Russian carrierTransaero.[6] The airport has a VIP area, where travellers for a fee can go through a dedicated security check, wait in the VIP lounge and be transported by car to the aircraft, avoiding mix with non VIP paying passengers. There isWi-Fi internet access all over the terminal including CIP and VIP zones.
Kokshetau International Airport, as the main airport servingKokshetau, is also used by VIP-flights usingbusiness jets. Government officials are frequent visitors.[16] On 25 August 1972, the Soviet party chiefLeonid Ilyich Brezhnev visited Kokchetav Airport, where he was met byDinmukhamed Kunaev. On 28 May 1991, the presidentMikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev visited Kokchetav Airport to assess the agricultural harvest in the former 'Virgin Lands'. On 19 December 2009, the presidents of Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan visited Kokshetau International Airport to attend CIS informal summit in Kokshetau.[17] In October 2015, thePresident of RussiaVladimir Putin visited Kokshetau International Airport with acouple of large jet airplanes. The then-Prime Minister of VietnamNguyen Tan Dung has also visited Kokshetau with hisBoeing 777.[16] CIS-meetings and exhibitions in theBurabay area also bring special flights to the airport.
In 2010, the airport underwent major reconstruction, including reconstruction of the passenger terminal building and modernization of the runway. TheKazakhstani Government approved major renovation and refurbishment works to the air-terminal complex as well as a runway expansion project worth
8.3 billion tenge (US$56,290,000). The project saw the runway extended from 2,537 m (8,323 ft) to 2,850 m (9,350 ft) and the size of the main terminal increased to 8,552 m2 (92,050 sq ft). It has twojetways for passenger use. The first test flight and landing at the airport took place on December 11, 2011.[18] In 2013, the airport was granted an international status.[8] As a result of this expansion, the airport is capable of handlingwide-body aircraft such as theBoeing 767-300 andBoeing 777-300 with no restrictions. However, generally, flights operating into and out of Kokshetau are serviced bynarrow-body aircraft.
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The following airlines operate regular scheduled services to and from Kokshetau:[19]
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Qazaq Air | Almaty |
| SCAT Airlines | Aqtau,Şymkent |
Kokshetau Airport is used by three airlines flying to three destinations in Kazakhstan.
In 2021, it served 17,000 passengers, an increase of 43.1% compared to 2020, making it theseventeenth-busiest airport in Kazakhstan.
| Year | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passengers handled[b] | 2,353 | 7,401 | 3,064 | 17,497 | 14,213 | 22,016 | 21,427 | 21,683 | 11,877 | 17,000 | 50,010 |
| Passengers handled % change |  10.1% | 214.5% |  58.6% | 471.1% | 18.8% | 15.6% | 2.7% | 1.2% | 45.2% | 43.1% | |
| Place in Kazakhstan | 19 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | ? | ? | ? |
Along with being an alternative option toNursultan Nazarbayev International Airport, Kokshetau Airport is convenient for the resorts such asBurabay andZerenda. Kokshetau International Airport is located in the north-east part ofKokshetau, approximately 12.5 km (7.8 mi) from the city centre. There is no direct rail link to Kokshetau city centre, and the public transport options to the city are taxis, buses and private transport.
No. 18 municipal bus line connects the airport with the city centre ofKokshetau. Service is available from 06:00 to 22:00 and run from the airport (just outside the airport) to the city center and vice versa with intermediate stops in between. The single fare is 150.
| Route | Route description | Interval | Stops[21] | Service notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 No. 18 | Abay St., Auelbekov St., Nazarbayev St., Road A-343,Road A-13 | 30–70 minutes | Railway Station,Central Bus Station, Privokzal'naya, Mira, Alatau, Central Market, Burabay, Radiozavod, Yubileynyy, Zvonochek, Vasil'kovskiy,Airport | No late night service |
The airport is located on the (
)National Road A13, about 20 kilometers (12 mi) from the city center and about 20 minutes drive, depending on traffic. There is extensive car and motorcycle parking space available. Taxis are also available directly outside the terminal building at the airport parking lot (
Yandex.Taxi andinDriver). Many taxi companies offer a flat-rate for to/from the airport (the rate is usually 1,500), booked viamobile app.
| Date | Aircraft | Fatalities | Description of the event | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 May 1974 | Antonov An-2P | 15/15 | Aeroflot Flight SU476K on a flight from Avangard (now Presnoe) toKokshetau viaSchuchinsk crashed intoMount Kokshe (947 m) six km west of Burabay (village),Akmola Region. All thirteen passengers and two crew were killed. | [22] |
| 29 Jan 2013 | Bombardier CRJ-200 | 21/21 | SCAT Airlines Flight 760 crashed nearKyzyltu during a low-visibilityfinal approach toAlmaty International Airport (IATA:ALA)43°24′06″N77°05′01″E / 43.40168°N 77.083654°E /43.40168; 77.083654 that originated fromKokshetau (IATA:KOV). All 16 passengers and five crew on board were killed. | [23][24] |
