Mar 20, 2026
Kazakhstan’s
Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev explained what the “low-altitude
economy” is and how it will be implemented in the new city of Alatau, according
to a Kazinform correspondent.
According
to Kanat Bozumbayev, the low-altitude economy will be one of the key areas of
development for the new city of Alatau.
—
The city of Alatau will become the first place outside of China where, for
example, air taxis or drones can be tested over fairly long distances—at
altitudes above 120 meters. “This currently exists only in China, it has been
implemented in the city of Shenzhen. We hope to begin as early as this year. We
are already in negotiations and have signed a number of documents with a U.S.
company, one of the industry leaders, Joby Aero. There is already a 15-year
waiting list for their air taxis. We are also working with the Chinese company
AutoFlight, Bozumbayev said during a joint meeting.
The
Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan noted that the country plans to build vertiports that will connect
Alatau, the city of Konaev, several locations in Almaty, as well as tourist
destinations.
—
We estimate this potential at around eight million tourists per year. That’s a
significant volume; we need to tap into this potential as well. Then imagine
these air taxis flying at speeds of about 300–350 kilometers per hour between
these three locations—the Almaty region, Alatau, and Almaty—in the first phase,
over the next two to three years, it will take 10–15 minutes by air, along
designated routes, using unmanned aircraft,” he added.