The airport plays role in connecting Almaty to the rest of the country and the broader region through its extensive transport links.

The airport is located approximately 8.1 NM (15.0 km; 9.3 mi) to the north-east of central Almaty, on the outskirts of the city.

The airport is located north of the settlement of Guldala, and north-east of other city districts, including Tbilisskaya and Kolhozshy, all of which lie within the wider region of Almaty.

The new runway was also given an ICAO certificate for CAT III landings which will significantly reduce the number of planes diverting to nearby airfields due to low visibility, especially during the winter months.

IATA is urging the Kazakhstan government to follow ICAO principles and eliminate differential ANSP charges between domestic and international carriers.

A German consulting group hired by the airport reached the same conclusions and recommended the construction of a combined terminal for both domestic and international flights.

[9][10] On 7 January, TASS reported that Collective Security Treaty Organization troops had occupied the airport and restored order.

The main terminal of Almaty International Airport, originally built in 1973 at 2 Mailina Street, was designed by architects V. P. Ishchenko, O. N. Naumova, Y. G. Litvinenko, and Y. I. Sharapov, with engineering contributions from K. Nurmakova and Z. Sukhanova.

Recognized as a historical monument in 1979, it served as a significant architectural and operational hub until its destruction by fire on the night of 9–10 July 1999.

The fire, which lasted over seven hours, severely damaged key areas, including the restaurant, waiting room, and duty-free shop, rendering the building unusable.

Designed by M. Montakhaev, the new terminal showcases a dynamic roofline complemented by architectural elements such as large lanterns resembling faceted diamonds encased in stained-glass frames.

The airport’s business terminal, located at 1A Mailina Street, was originally constructed in 1947 by architects B. Zavarzin and G. Elkin, with input from T. Basenov.

Rebuilt in 1957 by architect Kapanov, it incorporated national Kazakh architectural elements, giving it a distinctive oriental aesthetic.