Shymkent is the largest city in Kazakhstan by area. And in terms of population (more than five hundred thousand people), it ranks second in the country. Shymkent is located in the very south of Kazakhstan, in fact, at the very border with Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. This location makes the city a convenient point for trips to the republics of Central Asia. After all, the city is separated from Tashkent by some hundred kilometers. Therefore, Shymkent International Airport is very popular among travelers. Schedule, air harbor services, as well as answers to questions about how to get to the city, will be described in this article.
History of the airport
Many air terminals have evolved from former military bases. But not Shymkent airport. From the very beginning, its purpose was peaceful. In March, one thousand nine hundred and thirty-two, not far from Chimkent(as the city was then called) an agricultural airfield was founded. But for a short time "maize" took off from here to pollinate the fields.
At the end of 1963, the airfield was moved to a new location, to the northwestern tip of the city, where it is located today. And five years later it was transferred to the needs of civil aviation. A passenger terminal and runway were built. These facilities have been renovated several times. The last one took place in 2008, when more than six billion tenge was allocated from the republican budget for the construction of a new terminal, runway, and control towers.
Now Shymkent Airport, whose phone number can be found on the official website, has the status of an international air harbor. Its runway can accommodate all types of ships. In 2014, the air terminal served four hundred and forty thousand passengers.
Shymkent International Airport: timetable
The air station is the base for several airlines. It is also used by the Kazakh Air Force. But the main ones at the airport are still joint-stock companies serving passengers and cargo. These are SKAT airline, Shymkent Airport JSC, local branches of Kazakhaeronavigatsia, Kazaeroservice. The busiest air communication is established with the main cities of the country - Astana and Almaty. Also within the republic there are flights to Aktobe, Pavlodar, Urumqi and Karaganda. Abroad, liners fly from Shymkent airport to Moscow (Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo), as well as Novosibirsk. In touristperiod, charters also start from here. Air Arabia operates flights to Sharjah (UAE), while SKAT operates flights to Istanbul and Antalya (Turkey).
How to get to the city. Description of bus routes
Shymkent International Airport is located ten kilometers west of the city center. If you arrive at the air harbor during the day, you will not have problems getting to the hotel. Immediately upon exiting the terminal, you will see bus stops for routes 12, 12-A and 12-B. Feel free to sit on any. Their route is the same. There is only one final stop for buses - "Airport". On the central streets of the city, cars follow in a circle. The ticket is purchased from the driver and costs fifty tenge. The only problem is that the buses run from six in the morning until seven in the evening. For the rest of the day, you can get anywhere from Shymkent Airport only by taxi. There are several dozen services in the city where you can call a car by calling the dispatcher. You just need to say that you need a car to Shymkent airport. The fare will cost from two hundred and fifty to five hundred tenge.
Airport services
The only terminal of the airport serves passengers of both domestic and international flights. There is free parking near the bus stop. If you want to leave your car under 24/7 surveillance, there are two car parks. There is a cafeteria across the street from the terminal. There is a small cafe in the terminal buildingand a bar. There are two waiting areas (regular and VIP) for those arriving in transit at Shymkent Airport.
Help service is available by phone and will answer all questions related to flights. There are only two gates in the airport terminal: A and B, so it is simply impossible to get lost. Pay attention here and passengers with children. There is a changing room. Air tickets can be bought directly in the terminal hall.
