“Three days”: When Astana Airport will operate without restrictions

Tengrinews.kz - Astana Airport will soon introduce changes to its operating schedule. Restrictions will be in place due to scheduled maintenance during the first two months of autumn. However, in September, there will be three days when the airport will operate as usual.
When and how the airport will close
The airport’s press service previously informed us that the work will be carried out according to the following schedule:
September 1–4, 2025 — daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
September 8 – October 31, 2025 — also from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM

“During these hours, takeoffs and landings will not be performed,” the airport stated.

The restrictions will affect both domestic and international flights. The limitations come as part of planned maintenance on the runway and lighting equipment. The airport emphasized that these measures are necessary to ensure flight safety.
Three days
Many noticed that from September 5 to 7 inclusive, the airport will operate normally. The airport confirmed this information.

“During September 5–7, Astana Airport’s runway will operate as usual. This is because an audit by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is scheduled at the airport on these dates. The decision to hold the audit was made more than six months in advance, while the runway closure for repairs was only decided in May this year. Therefore, to allow the international audit to proceed in full, the airport will continue normal operations for those three days,” the press service explained.

Airlines
We contacted several airlines in the country to learn how the repairs will affect scheduled flights.
The press service of SCAT Airlines said that, due to the daytime closure of Astana Airport, the airline had made advance changes to its flight program:
Daytime flights on the Shymkent – Astana – Shymkent and Almaty – Astana – Almaty routes have been canceled.
The schedules of around 300 flights were adjusted.
Air Astana also informed us of temporary changes to its schedule due to the repairs.
The adjustments affect flights between Astana and Almaty, Atyrau, Aktau, Aktobe, Uralsk, Kostanay, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Frankfurt, Dubai, Seoul, Istanbul, Antalya, Beijing, Phuket, and Nha Trang. Passengers whose flights were affected were notified in advance through their booking contact details. Alternative travel options were offered to those who lost connections.
FlyArystan reported that about 80 percent of its flights to and from Astana will be affected by the airport’s temporary closure.

“This has had a complex impact on the airline’s entire route network, meaning changes apply not only to Astana flights but to the network as a whole,” the airline’s press service said.

Qazaq Air (Vietjet Qazaqstan) also noted that the airline took measures in advance to minimize inconvenience for passengers.

“Reservation systems automatically display only valid flights available for booking,” the carrier stated.

According to the airline, the scheduled repairs will affect about 80 flights per week.