Shymkent Airport

Shymkent Airport traces its roots back to the Soviet era, opening in the 1930s, and today operates a single main passenger terminal with a modern international wing after recent upgrades. As the primary gateway for southern Kazakhstan, it’s a mid-sized, regionally important airport linking Shymkent with domestic hubs and nearby Silk Road destinations. The airport sits roughly 10–15 km from the city center and is well connected by regular shuttle buses, shared taxis and road links to surrounding cities. Flights and on-site services are generally budget-friendly compared with larger Kazakh hubs, and the airport acts as a base for SCAT Airlines while also seeing routes from Air Astana, Qazaq Air and other regional carriers.