Kazakhstan to Expand Air Travel with New Flights from Shymkent
The new terminal at Shymkent airport is set to open up a wide range of domestic and international routes, connecting the region to various destinations across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. According to Kazakhstan’s SCAT Airlines Spokesperson Victoria Starozhilova, the terminal will offer 14 domestic and 16 international routes, including flights to European countries, China, South Korea, Southeast Asia, the United Arab Emirates, Belarus, and many other popular destinations.
The terminal officially opened last December with the arrival of its first flight from Astana to Shymkent. Currently, it caters to regular domestic flights, but plans are in place to soon open up its international and transit sectors once border control and customs equipment are installed. The airport anticipates expanding its list of destinations to include India, Vietnam, Russia, Italy, Spain, Germany, Greece, and Egypt, bringing the total number of operated routes to 45.
In the meantime, the old terminal in Shymkent continues to handle around 15 flights daily, with a mix of domestic and international routes. As the new terminal’s international zone becomes operational, the old terminal’s workload is expected to decrease. To further enhance the airport’s capabilities and efficiency, plans are underway to construct a second runway. This additional infrastructure will help mitigate delays and flight cancellations often caused by adverse weather conditions, ensuring that flights can operate even in challenging visibility situations.
Rolan Ibragimov, the head of Shymkent’s passenger transport and highways department, highlighted the importance of this new development, stating, “Planes will be able to land even in zero visibility conditions.” Additionally, efforts will be made to enhance international cargo transportation by expanding the trade and logistics center within the airport premises.
With these advancements and improvements in place, Shymkent airport is poised to become a vital hub for both domestic and international travel, offering convenient connections to a diverse range of destinations for passengers and cargo alike.
