President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for urgent steps to accelerate Kazakhstan's air cargo development, aiming to secure a significant share of Asia-Europe transit flows by 2040, reports the Astana Times.

President Tokayev said Kazakhstan must build a fully integrated multimodal logistics system linking roads, railways and air transport. He stressed that the country's strategic position at the crossroads of major air corridors requires stronger infrastructure and the creation of full-fledged cargo hubs at key airports.

He noted that airport service tariffs have risen only once in the past decade, leading to infrastructure deterioration. A balanced tariff review is needed, he said, alongside reduced bureaucracy in non-aviation services to improve the business climate.

High fuel costs and limited domestic production were identified as major obstacles. Mr Tokayev instructed the government to boost local jet fuel output within three years, diversify imports and maintain competition. He also proposed establishing a national aviation research institute and certification laboratories.

The president urged support for the national cargo airline, with measures over three to five years to expand multimodal logistics. He suggested reconsidering the age limit on cargo aircraft, citing examples of older fleets operated by FedEx, UPS and One Air.

The president highlighted slow progress in implementing the E-freight system launched in 2019, calling for full integration and a single digital window for transport. He also stressed the need to expand cooperation with international institutions to address the shortage of aviation personnel.