The airport was built 3 kilometers away from Akmolinsk city (now – Astana). There was a square field for aircraft take-off and landing, adobe 8-room station with a small waiting hall, a two-room house for pilots and fuel storage on the airport territory.

The regular air traffic was established between Semipalatinsk and Akmolinsk (day of enterprise establishment). At the water flood period, the aerodrome was closed. Communication between aerodrome and city was by phone, ferry (there was no bridge over Ishim river), by foot path.. In the first few years the air traffic was ad-hoc by character, the timetables used to be as follows “aircraft departure on Monday morning” or “on Wednesday at sunrise”. Transportation of passengers, mail and cargo was carried out by aircrafts: К-4, К-5, PR-5, P-5, P-2.

The regular flights were established, with the following routes:: 1. Alma-Ata – Bertras – Karaganda – Akmolinsk – Atbasar – Kustanai – Sverdlovsk. 2. Karaganda – Petropavlovsk – Kurgaldzhino – Akmolinsk – Zhana Arka – Presnovka.

In the beginning of 1946 the first group of Po-2 aircrafts arrived to Akmolinsk for regular service. The group belonged to Karaganda aviation enterprise. The following routes were opened for passenger and mail transportation: Akmolinsk – Kurgaldzhino – Zholymbet – Aksu – Bugumbay – Bestube – Astrakhanka – Balkashino – Blagodatnoe (settlements of Akmolinsk region). Operations division was organized consisting of 2 persons. In 1946 aviation began to render services for the national economy – medical aviation.

The fleet consisting of three Po – 2 aircrafts was formed at the Akmolinsk airport base. This fleet was part of air group which was based in Karaganda. The airport was equipped with modern equipment (for that days), construction development has started: a Finnish house for radio station, three buildings and a garage were built. The total number of staff amounted to 40 – 50 persons. The airport has begun servicing heavier types of aircraft LI-2 in addition to light aircraft.

After extending the runway in May, the IL-12, and later IL-14, landed for the first time.

On the basis of the link, an air squadron was formed. The aircraft fleet was replenished with aircraft Yak-12, AN-2.

Akmolinsk Airport is moving to round-the-clock work.

09-th of May the United Air Squadron of Akmolinsk was established. In this year aircraft AN-2 was additionally allocated for to United Air Squadron of Akmolinsk, which allowed increasing coverage of local air routes.

16-th of October Akmolinsk airport became the 3rd class airport

The first own aircraft LI-2 were received, which began regular flights by routes: Akmolinsk – Stepnogorsk, Akmolinsk – Kustanai

04-th of November the airport of Tselinograd (formerly known as – Akmolinsk) accepted the first aircraft IL-18 in new terminal, located 18 km far from the city. Aircraft IL-18 in new terminal, located 18 km far from the city. On December, 1963 aircraft IL-18 began to operate on regular flights. The airport terminal was at a building stage, therefore the adapted 2-storeyed building served as air terminal, where the Air traffic control service has been located

08-th of February the new air terminal was transferred into operation, and in June of the same year all services of united aviagroup relocated to the new airport. The old airport which exists since 1930, in 1966 was transferred to sport club DOSAAF.

The aircraft park of Tselinograd aviagroup has replenished with the first aircraft AN-24. With reception of aircraft AN-24 the volume of passenger, mail, and cargo transportation has sharply increased. People began to fly to many cities of the former Union on own airpark.

The aircraft TU-154 has firstly landed on our runway. Since this moment regular flight by aircraft TU-154 on Alma-ata – Tselinograd – Moscow route and back has been opened.

Transaero carried out the first flight on the route Moscow-Astana (then Akmola) and became the first foreign airline to open air communication with the future Kazakhstan capital. Flights were carried out until December 15, 2015. The airline was replaced by the national air carrier of Russia - Aeroflot.

Historical mark for Akmola (Astana) aviators was the change of the capital. Airdrome reconstruction begun and finished in a relatively short time: the runway with artificial covering was extended for about 3500 meters; taxiway and apron were also expanded. Replacements of light system and the radio navigating equipment; the VIP building was constructed, the airport complex was reconstructed. SCAT is the second largest air carrier in Kazakhstan, departing for the first time from Astana to Shymkent, has been operating at Nursultan Nazarbayev Airport since 1998. Every day the airline operates flights to such regions of the country as Almaty, Aktau, Aktobe, Pavlodar, Ust-Kamenogorsk and Shymkent, Semey, Taldykorgan, 3 times a week to Taraz, on Tuesdays and Thursdays to Zhezkazgan and Petropavlovsk on Mondays and Saturdays. Today SCAT carries out flights twice a week to Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan. In the long term, flights to the far abroad are planned, including in the framework of the tourist program. Used types of aircraft - Bombardier CRJ200, Boeing 737/757/767.

Austrian Airlines has become one of the first international airport partners. In September, the first flight to Vienna was made. In 2016, the airline announced the suspension of flights from Astana.

Air Astana is the national carrier of Kazakhstan, one of the main customers, which has been successfully cooperating with Nursultan Nazarbayev Airport for more than 15 years. On May 15, 2002 the first flight was made by the route Astana-Almaty. Today, Air Astana commits daily flights from Astana to 15 cities of the Republic. Used types of aircraft are: Embraer 90, Airbus 320/321, Boeing 757/767. Air Astana is carrying out a large number of flights to the near and far abroad with the maximum possible frequency of flights. "Air Astana" makes flights to the capitals of beautiful and large states - Abu Dhabi, Tashkent, London, Tbilisi, Baku, Bangkok, Beijing, Paris and Delhi, Bishkek, Dubai, Seoul, Istanbul, Novosibirsk and Omsk. Daily flights are carried out to Yekaterinburg, St. Petersburg, Moscow, Urumqi, Frankfurt and London.

Beginning of the implementation of the large-scale project "Reconstruction of the passenger terminal of JSC "International Airport Astana". In the spring-summer navigation, the Pulkovo airline starts flights to St. Petersburg-Astana-Saint Petersburg. Subsequently, the successor to this direction will be the airline Russia.

In August, Ural Airlines launched flights by the route Yekaterinburg-Astana-Yekaterinburg.

On March 5, the first flight of the domestic airline Zhetysu to the capital of the Semirechye - Taldykorgan on the Yak-40 aircraft type was made. At present, the airline makes flights from Astana to Usharal during the summer navigation.

A large-scale international airport reconstruction project has been completed. On February 2, 2005, the grand opening of the new passenger terminal of the airport took place. The terminal area was more than 25 thousand square meters. meters. Number of check-in counters - 24, 2 luggage straps. Currently, the terminal is used to service domestic flights and is called Terminal 2. One of the first foreign partners of the airport was the state-owned airline of the Republic of Uzbekistan "Uzbekiston Havo Yullari". 13 of 26 years of its existence the airline works with the airport Nursultan Nazarbayev. Flights from Astana to sunny Tashkent are carried out 3 times a week on an aircraft of the Airbus 320 type.October 19, 2005, its first flight was launched by a large airline "Turkish Airlines" (Turkish Airlines). Being a successful partner of the capital airport of Kazakhstan, the airline makes daily flights to the largest city of Turkey - Istanbul on Boeing 737, and the airline also has tourist charter programs for the seasons. Istanbul has an excellent route system for connecting flights. On November 14, the flight was launched by the first Arab budget air carrier Air Arabia from Astana to Sharjah on a comfortable A-320 airliner.

The flagship carrier of Germany - the airline "Lufthansa" since March 26, 2006, flies three times a week from Astana to the business capital of Germany - Frankfurt, the type of aircraft used by Airbus 330. Frankfurt is also one of the best cities for transplantation on a complex route. April 28 opened flight of Ukrainian airline UM Air (Ukrainian-Mediterranean Airlines) in the direction of Kiev-Astana-Kiev. China Southern Airlines - One of the largest airlines in China, founded more than 26 years ago, has been cooperating with the airport for 12 years. The airline carries out 3 flights a week to the city of Urumqi on Boeing 737. The first flight of the airline in direction Urumqi-Astana was made on July 24.

On November 28, for the first time in history, the airport met its first millionth passenger. The millionth passenger of the year 2007 was Nurlan Merekenov, who arrived on the flight KS-851 Almaty - Astana airline Air Astana. Since July 2007, the Astana Airport has been operated by Malaysia Airoports Holding Berhad under the Trust Deed, which aims to improve performance and service levels in accordance with the standards of international airports with a high level of income. "Belavia" - the Belarusian national airline, in partnership with the capital airport from June 29, 2007 to the present, every day makes flights to Minsk by aircraft of the type Embraer 195, Boeing 737. Airline Russia, a member of the Aeroflot group, has been operating since 2007 from Nursultan Nazarbayev airport. Today, on airliners such as Airbus 320/321, four times a week the airline operates flights to the cultural center and to the second largest city of Russia - St. Petersburg.

Also this year, flights of Novosibirsk Avia to Novosibirsk, now connecting Astana with Siberia, and KD-Avia to the westernmost point of Russia, Kaliningrad, are opened, providing convenient connecting flights from Kaliningrad to more than sixteen major cities Europe and Russia.

On January 17, the airport was awarded the ICAO category IIIA. Astana Airport is the first airport in Kazakhstan to have such a certificate. It allows you to service aircraft in difficult weather conditions. On April 16, a presentation was held on the occasion of the launch of a Kyrgyz airline flight in the direction Bishkek-Astana. The first passengers of the presentation flight were the Minister of Transport and Communications of the Kyrgyz Republic Nurlan Sulaimanov and the Minister of Industry, Energy and Fuel Resources of the Kyrgyz Republic Saparbek Balkibekov.

Since May 7, 2009, Nursultan Nazarbayev's airport has been cooperating with the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, Etihad Airways, founded in 2003. Today, the airline flies from the capital of Kazakhstan to the largest of seven emirates and the capital of the UAE - Abu Dhabi. Airbus type of aircraft used.

On April 24, a new passenger flight Kiev-Astana-Kiev was presented at the Astana International Airport. The Ukrainian carrier AeroSvit joined the partners of the airport.

On May 26, the Kazakhstan airline Avia-Zhaynar launched flights to Kostanay for the first time.

"International Airlines of Ukraine" is the flagship airline and the largest air carrier of Ukraine, since April 2011 it has been flying daily from Astana to Kiev - one of the best options for connecting a difficult route. From Astana, the airline flies on the boards of the Boeing series.

November 30, Astana International Airport handled its two millionth passenger, thus exceeding the projected number of passengers. This passenger was Zhuravlev Eugene from the city of Almaty, who flew the flight 851 of Air Astana. "Bek Air" - Kazakhstan airline made its first flight from Astana to Almaty on June 01, 2012. The aircraft type used is Foker 100. Today the airline already flies from Astana to 7 regions of the country: in Almaty, Shymkent, Aktau, Kyzylorda, Atyrau, Aktobe and Uralsk.

The beginning of the implementation of the projects "Reconstruction of the passenger terminal of JSC" International Airport Astana ", as well as "Construction of the Business Aviation Terminal".

The grand opening of the business aviation terminal took place on November 19, 2015. The BAT area is 2,400 square meters, the capacity is 200 passengers per hour. The terminal building housed a lounge bar, a conference hall, rooms for negotiations, convenience for passengers with children, a duty free shop, there are 52 parking spaces for guests. "Qazaq Air" - a young airline, rapidly developing regional flight network. For today, the airline flies from Nursultan Nazarbayev airport every day to Almaty, Aktobe, Zhezkazgan, Kostanay, Pavlodar and Shymkent.

October 27, 2015 between the airport Nursultan Nazarbayev and the largest airline of Russia "Aeroflot" partnerships were concluded, daily flights to one of the centers of connecting complex routes around the world and the capital of the Russian Federation - Moscow began.

"Asiana Airlines" is one of the new partners of the airport Nursultan Nazarbayev. The presentation of the first flight of the South Korean airline from Astana was carried out on August 8, 2015 in the capital of the Republic of Korea, Seoul. "Flydubai" - the state budget airline of the United Arab Emirates, began joint activity with the airport Nursultan Nazarbayev on October 27, 2015. To date, three times a week the airline operates flights to Dubai - the tourist center of the Middle East. Used type of Boeing 737.

Also, one of the new air carriers in Astana is the Royal Dutch Airlines "KLM". Flights from the capital of Kazakhstan to Amsterdam were carried out in May 2016, twice a week on board the type Airbus 330. In 2017, the flight was suspended.

Within the framework of Infrastructure Development Program "Nurly Zhol" a new passenger terminal for international flights was built. 47,000 sq. M. The new terminal adds 6 new aircraft parking lots with landing sleeves and 4 bus landing routes to the Airport infrastructure, and also includes a variety of technologies and processes designed to improve the quality of service at the Airport. Also, the first modern baggage handling system in Kazakhstan has been installed in T1, which complies with the standards of the EU 2020 and can handle up to 1200 pieces of baggage per hour, 50 passport control booths, 27 check-in counters and 4 self-check-in counters. The new terminal has a public catering area of ​​1000 square meters, retail outlets occupy 1,300 square meters. For the first time in history, the business hall began functioning. The total capacity is 8.2 million passengers per year, which is more than 2.5 times more than the previous one. The official opening of the new international terminal took place on May 31, 2017 with the participation of the Head of State. June 5, 2017 a new terminal began serving international flights.

A solemn ceremony was held at Astana airport to open a new direction Astana-Warsaw. May 30, 2017 Astana Airport welcomes its new partner LOT Polish Airlines, which today made its first flight in the direction of Astana-Warsaw. Direct regular communication between Astana and Warsaw opens for the first time. Flights are operated 4 times a week in the summer schedule, 3 times a week in the winter schedule on a comfortable Boeing-737 airliner.
June 01, 2017 Astana Airport solemnly met the board of the new airline with the waterway, among the clients of the airport - Air China, which made its first flight to Beijing-Astana, 70 people arrived on the first flight. Flights are carried out 3 times a week on a comfortable airliner Airbus-320 in the summer schedule, 2 times a week in the winter.
June 8, 2017 in the airport of Astana arrived the first flight of Wizzair from Budapest. The new low-cost air carrier Wizzair became the first of the new airlines that was serviced in the new terminal of the T1 airport in the capital.
On June 19, a solemn presentation of the first flight of Finn Air on the Helsinki-Astana-Helsinki route took place. Flights from Astana to Helsinki (Finland) were carried out 2 times a week on Mondays and Fridays on a comfortable Airbus-319 airliner. Despite the fact that the flights to Helsinki were planned to be launched only for the period of EXPO-2017, the airline plans to continue the program in the summer schedule of 2018.

On June 20, in accordance with the published resolution of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan of March 5, 1996, No. 281 "On Approval of the Rules for Assignment of Airports, Ports, Railway Stations, Railway Stations, Metro Stations, Bus Stations, Bus Stations, Physical and Geographical and Other State-Owned Property on the Territory Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as renaming, clarifying and changing the transcription of their names and assigning their own names to state legal entities, judicial bodies with the participation of the state "Astana International Airport was renamed into "Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport".

In the same year, on November 30, the new Terminal of the International Airport Nursultan Nazarbayev served a 1 millionth passenger. For the period from June 5 to November 30, 2017 Terminal 1 served 1 million people. The honorary commemorative passenger was Alexei Frantsuzov, who flew from Novosibirsk on a flight of KS 218 from Air Astana. The name of the 1-millionth passenger was determined by accident, by holding a lottery.
Two weeks later, December 14, International Airport Nursultan Nazarbayev served a 4-millionth passenger. An honorable commemorative passenger was Seyfulllyn Alisher, who flew from the city of Aktobe with a flight DV 724 from SCAT. An honorable commemorative passenger was Seyfulllyn Alisher, who flew from the city of Aktobe with a flight DV 724 from SCAT. Currently, Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport has the category of the International Civil Aviation Association - IIIA, as well as accepts and serves aircraft of all types, with no takeoff weight limitation - Il-76, An-124, B747-400F.

On April 20, the airport Nursultan Nazarbayev opened a duty-free store (Duty Free) in the baggage claim area of Terminal 1.

On June 1, the modular warehouse was put into operation. It is located in the controlled area of the airport and has direct access to the apron. The total area of the facility is more than 1,100 sq. m, where there are areas for receiving/dispatching cargo and mail from domestic airlines and customs union countries, as well as for receiving and dispatching transfer (transit) cargo. The design capacity is up to 12,000 tons of cargo and mail per year.

On June 5, about two million passengers were served by the new airport terminal in a year of work, more than ten thousand airplane departures were made. The terminal also contributed to the international specialized exhibition EXPO-2017 by ensuring the arrival and departure of guests and exhibitors.

On December 14, the first direct flight from Astana to Dushanbe was opened. The carrier was SCAT airline.

On May 7, the first flight of the new S7Airlines on the route Novosibirsk-Nur-Sultan-Novosibirsk was met by the traditional water arch at the Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport.

On June 02 the airport Nursultan Nazarbayev held a solemn event on the occasion of the celebration - the opening of new SKAT airline flights to Prague, the Czech capital, and to Ulan-Bator, the capital city of Mongolia.

On July 1, ePassenger software was introduced at the airport in terminals T1 and T2. Now passengers departing from the capital's airport have the opportunity to check boarding passes by scanning them from the screen of an electronic medium. This can be a smartphone or a tablet. The largest airports in the world already use this technology. The service is a system of pre-flight inspection of passengers by electronic boarding pass.

On November 29, for the Day of the First President, the transition gallery was opened at Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport. It connected terminals T1 and T2 (international and domestic departures). The total area of the gallery is 1000 square meters and its length is 90 meters. The new transition gallery allows visitors of the airport to get from one terminal to another without going out into the street.

On December 20, the 5 millionth passenger was determined. She was Zeynep Nurgazina, who flew from Pavlodar by «FlyArystan».

In February, due to an outbreak of coronavirus infection in China, checks on international flights are introduced to identify infected passengers.

Disinfectants have been installed throughout the airport, reminders to passengers of the need to maintain social distance are posted, audio alerts are given about the need for sanitary standards to prevent coronavirus infection, and cleaners conduct hourly treatment inside the terminals.

In March, temporary restrictions on certain international flights are introduced due to the spread of coronavirus infection.

From March 16 to April 15 in connection with the introduction of a state of emergency in the country restrictions on entry and exit from Kazakhstan.

On May 1, after all passenger flights were suspended, domestic flights between Nur-Sultan and Almaty were resumed.

On June 8, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) assigned a new code NQZ to Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport, which will now be displayed in all reservation systems, boarding passes, baggage tags and information boards. In June, restrictive measures were imposed on passengers arriving on scheduled international flights.

On June 20, «Air Astana» was the first to resume international flights between Nur-Sultan and Istanbul. In June, «Turkish Airlines» became the first international airline to resume flights to Nur-Sultan.

On June 29, in order to prevent coronavirus infection, the airport introduced 24/7 automatic temperature measurement systems for visitors.

On October 1, the first branded Priority Pass business lounge in Central Asia was inaugurated in the international terminal building (T1).

On November 23 the airport received RA-3 certificate (Regulated Agents Third country), which is a necessary condition for simplified organization of air cargo transportation to the territory of the European Union.

On December 1, the airline «FlyArystan» opened a new flight in the direction of Nur-Sultan - Turkestan.

In 2020, the airport became one of the main transit hubs for humanitarian and cargo flights en route from Southeast Asia to Europe.

By the end of December, Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport, due to the spread of coronavirus infection, suspended payment for the lease of commercial space to tenants, thereby supporting SMEs in the amount of about 1 billion tenge.

On January 15, a service for testing for coronavirus infection became available at the airport for passengers and guests of the capital.

On January 29, the airport implemented best practices in developed countries for serving passengers with autism spectrum disorders and mental disabilities.

In March, SCAT Airlines launched its first flight between Nur-Sultan and Ras Al Khaimah.

On April 15, due to the spread of the coronavirus, access to the terminals was restricted to citizens meeting and escorting passengers.

On May 1, «Lufthansa» resumed its Frankfurt-Nur-Sultan-Almaty flight after a long break. On May 4, «FlyArystan» began operating flights to Kutaisi from Nur-Sultan.

On May 10, the interdepartmental commission for the non-proliferation of coronavirus at the capital's airport launched a project for the admission of passengers through the Ashyq application.

On May 21, the airport presented the Concept of development of the capital's harbor until 2035. On the same day, a new service - Fast track - was launched, which implies a faster check-in and inspection for passengers with only hand luggage.

On June 8, in honor of the anniversary of the assignment of the code NQZ, as well as the 90th anniversary of the airport was opened «Alley of aviators», where were planted 40 seedlings of spruce.

From June 10, LOT Polish Airlines resumed flights to Warsaw-Nur-Sultan-Warsaw.

On June 18, «SCAT» Airlines launched its Nur-Sultan – Mersa Matrouh (Egypt) flight.

On June 30 for the convenience of passengers and guests of the airport was introduced a service of payment for parking through Kaspi QR.

From January 1 to June 30, Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport, due to the spread of coronavirus infection, suspended payment for the lease of commercial space to tenants, thereby supporting SMEs in the amount of 650 million tenge.

On July 3, the renovated VIP/CIP lounge with enhanced comfort for passengers departing on domestic flights was opened. The peculiarity of the lounge is that it is the first one opened in partnership with Mastercard Kazakhstan on the territory of Central Asia.

On July 30, the airport introduced its own "NQZ" mobile app.

On December 1, Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport celebrates its 90th anniversary. 

February 14 WizzAir Abu-Dhabi commence flights to Abu Dhabi.

On March 28, Red Wings began operating flights to Yekaterinburg, and from April 22 to Moscow (Zhukovsky).

On April 07, Rossiya Airlines began operating flights to Sochi, and from April 24 to Moscow (Sheremetyevo).

On May 11, Azimut opened flights to Moscow (Vnukovo) for the first time and from July 8 to Ufa.

June 12 Utair opened flights to Tyumen.

November 25 AirChina commence flights to Chengdu.

December 05 Anadolujet commence flights to Ankara.

On December 25, Vietjet began operating flights to Cam Ranh (Vietnam).

On March 13, Air Cairo and May 16, 2023, RedSea began operating flights to Sharm el-Sheikh.

March 16 AZAL Airlines commence flights to Baku.

On May 23, FlyArystan commence flights to Ankara, from June 2, 2023 to Baku.

June 03, 2023 Mavi Gok Airlines began operating flights to Antalya.