Official commissioning of Almaty airport transferred to 30 December

The official commissioning of Almaty airport has been transferred to 30 December, KZ-today has been advised in the press service of Almaty akimat today, on 23 December.

It is expected that the president of RK Nursultan Nazarbayev will participate in the ceremony. First passengers of Almaty-Astana flight of "Air Astana" company will be served in the terminal on the opening day.

Earlier it was reported that on 16 December the state commission had signed the acceptance report. A department for management of Almaty airport passenger terminal had been established by the communal construction venture for managing the terminal.

An ICAO commission (International Civil Aviation Organisation) considered awarding the 7th top category on three parameters: aviation and fire security, intellectual concept of the building. On 22 December the terminal obtained a license for airport activities from the Ministry of Transport and Communications of RK. Currently the airport is capable of receiving all types of wide body aircrafts without limitations.

the construction of new terminal of Almaty airport was started in 2000, when the old airport building was destroyed by a fire in 1999.

Initially the cost of new terminal was evaluated in $25 million, however, as a result of changes made in the airport project, related with a necessity of providing higher security, its cost, according to the akim of Almaty V. Hrapunov, grew to $52.3 million.

In particular, the terminal was equipped with 4 telescopic hoses, the safety system was revised, the luggage handling system and electric power. A new electric transmission line with a length exceeding 10 km was installed, a fire extinguishing water flume with the length exceeding 5.7 km, pumping the water from Talgar reservoir. A 4-floor automobile parking was constructed on the territory of the airport.