Teesside and Kazakhstan airport explore new UK-Central Asia cargo links

Teesside International Airport and Kazakhstan’s Sary-Arka Airport have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore new cargo services linking the UK with Central Asia and China.

image: Teesside International

The agreement will examine the potential for scheduled and charter freighter operations between the two airports, including direct cargo flights between Teesside and Karaganda. The airports will also work with airlines, charter operators, freight forwarders and logistics companies to identify potential services.

The partnership is intended to strengthen freight connections between the UK, Central Asia and China, while allowing the airports to share expertise in cargo, airport and real-estate development. The agreement also covers potential collaboration on e-commerce cargo handling.

Sary-Arka, located at Karaganda in central Kazakhstan, is being developed as an international cargo and logistics hub serving trade flows between China, Central Asia and European markets. The airport is expanding its cargo handling facilities and logistics infrastructure as part of that development.

Phil Forster, managing director of Teesside International Airport, said the agreement would allow the two airports to identify new freight opportunities and strengthen links between their respective regions.

“By working together, we can identify new freight opportunities, support airline growth, share expertise and create stronger links for businesses across our respective regions.”

Ruslan Gabbassov, CEO of Sary-Arka Airport, said the airports had “highly complementary positions” within emerging cargo networks, with Teesside providing access to UK and European markets and Sary-Arka positioned between China, Central Asia and Europe.

“This partnership is therefore not simply about establishing a route between two airports. It is about combining our respective strengths to develop new cargo flows, attract airlines and logistics operators, and create more efficient connections between our markets.”