KTZ Express, a freight operator under the Kazakhstan Railways (KTZ), has registered a new airline, KTZ Air Cargo. The carrier’s authorized capital is 196.6 million tenge, or approximately $380,000. The creation of the airline is aimed at expanding the range of multimodal logistics services that KTZ and its subsidiaries and partners already offer on international routes.
KTZ Air Cargo is scheduled to begin operations in 2026. As part of the first phase of development, KTZ Express intends to lease three wide-body medium-range Boeing 767 or Airbus A330 freighters and begin operations by mid-year. Upon achieving operational and financial targets, the company will consider scaling the business and expanding its fleet with additional aircraft.
The majority of transit cargo air traffic is planned to be handled through Kazakhstan on routes between China, Southeast Asia, and Europe, strengthening the country’s role as a key logistics hub in Eurasia. Charter flights will also be available upon request from cargo owners. As a reminder, KTZ Holding, whose sole shareholder is the state-owned fund Samruk-Kazyna, comprises companies responsible for freight and passenger transportation, railway infrastructure management, and the operation of the Aktau and Kurik ports on the Caspian Sea.