Flying from Aktau International Airport (SCO) to Shymkent Airport (CIT): what you need to know
Book a direct flight from Aktau International Airport to Shymkent Airport and you'll be travelling for an average of 2 hours 10 minutes.
The timezone in Shimkent is UTC+6, which is one hour ahead of Aktau.
Choose from 13 weekly Aktau International Airport to Shymkent Airport flights. The 10:45 departure with Air Astana is the earliest available. Air Astana operates the last service of the day at 20:00.
Your SCO to CIT flight won't wait if you're running late, so show up at the airport on time. Arrive up to one hour in advance for domestic flights and two hours ahead for international travel.
During popular months such as June, you'll want to get to the airport even earlier. Arrive two hours before a domestic departure and four hours ahead for international flights whenever you're travelling during a peak period in general.
SCAT Airlines has direct flights from Aktau International Airport to Shymkent Airport. Book with this popular carrier, then get ready to discover the sights in Shimkent — and maybe even more of Kazakhstan if your schedule allows.
The airline that passengers book most often on this route is SCAT Airlines.
If you'd like to break up your flight, just uncheck 'Direct flights only' when searching for your ticket from Aktau International Airport to Shymkent Airport. Here are the top stopovers between SCO and CIT:
Atyrau Airport
Almaty Airport
Kutaisi International Airport
How to find the cheapest flights from Aktau International Airport (SCO) to Shymkent Airport (CIT)
At the moment, RM248 is the lowest price we've found for a one-way Aktau International Airport to Shymkent Airport flight. The best price for a return ticket is RM738. Keep in mind that fares may change due to availability at the time of booking.
Book ten months before you travel. After looking at the numbers on our calendar, this is how far you'll want to book ahead to secure cheap tickets from SCO to CIT.
Schedule your trip for September. That's the cheapest month for flights from Aktau International Airport to Shymkent Airport. If you're flexible with your dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest price across every month.
Picking up cheap flights from SCO to CIT is easy with Price Alerts. All you need to do is set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll notify you as soon as a new deal comes up.
Lock in the perfect flight for you by using the filters. To see the 'Best,' 'Fastest' or 'Cheapest' flights from Aktau International Airport to Shymkent Airport, use the 'Sort by' tool. You can also filter by airline, departure and arrival times, and number of stops.
Handy information about Aktau International Airport (SCO)
71.77% of flights taking off from Aktau International Airport arrive at their destination on time.
Aktau International Airport is around 27 kilometres from central Aktau. If you're driving, catching a cab or ride-sharing from the centre, it'll take you 30 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic.
Booking a hotel room for the night can take the stress out of reaching the airport on time. If you need a place to stay before your flight from Aktau International Airport to Shymkent Airport, have a look at Aktau Airport Hotel. It's a quick drive from SCO.
Arriving at Shymkent Airport (CIT)
If you're coming in on a late Aktau International Airport to Shymkent Airport flight, nothing beats the convenience of staying near the terminal. Grab your suitcases from the carousel and then be tucked up in bed not long after at one of these accommodation options near CIT:
Getting from Shymkent Airport (CIT) to central Shimkent
From Shymkent Airport, Shimkent is approximately 0.16 kilometres away. It takes around 0 hours to reach the centre by car.
When to fly to Shymkent Airport (CIT)
It's time to pick your dates for your flight from Aktau International Airport to Shymkent Airport. June is the busiest month to visit Shimkent. If you prefer a more laid-back vibe, go in February.
The warmest month in Shimkent is July, with the temperature ranging between 18ºC (64ºF) and 38ºC (100ºF). Book your flights from Aktau International Airport to Shymkent Airport in this month if you enjoy this type of weather.
If you'd rather travel in cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from SCO to CIT in January. Temperatures average between -10ºC (14ºF) and 7ºC (45ºF) then.
Explore more of Kazakhstan
Turkestan is just one of the many cities in Kazakhstan waiting to be discovered after you've seen Shimkent. Around 153 kilometres away to the north-west, popular attractions include The Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, Underground Mosque and Etnopark.
Where to next? Head for Zhangatas. It's roughly 137 kilometres north of Shimkent and is known for highlights like Tsentral'nyy Park.
