Travelling from Almaty Airport (ALA) to Shymkent Airport (CIT): what you need to know
The average time for a direct flight from Almaty Airport to Shymkent Airport is 1 hour 20 minutes.
Almaty and Shimkent are in the same timezone, UTC+6.
Choose from 103 weekly Almaty Airport to Shymkent Airport flights. The 02:45 departure with Air Astana is the earliest available. SCAT Airlines operates the last service of the day at 23:30.
To ensure you catch your ALA to CIT flight, leave enough time for things like check-in and baggage drop. Turning up two hours ahead of international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the general travel rule.
During popular months like July, it's a good idea to get to the airport earlier than usual. 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 offers direct flights from Almaty Airport to Shymkent Airport. Book with this popular carrier, then get ready to check out the sights in Shimkent — and maybe even more of Kazakhstan if your schedule allows.
The airline most travellers fly with on this route is SCAT Airlines.
Think about adding a stopover when booking your ticket from Almaty Airport to Shymkent Airport. Simply uncheck 'Direct flights only' to break up your trip, or perhaps see a new city along the way. Here are some options between ALA and CIT:
Aktyubinsk Airport
Aktau International Airport
Atyrau Airport
How to find the cheapest flights from Almaty Airport (ALA) to Shymkent Airport (CIT)
Rs5,543 is the best price for a one-way Almaty Airport to Shymkent Airport flight. Return flights start from Rs11,320. These prices may change based on availability and demand.
Book ten months before you want to fly. After looking at the numbers on our calendar, this is how far you should book ahead to secure cheap tickets from ALA to CIT.
September is the cheapest month for flights from Almaty Airport to Shymkent Airport. If you need to travel during a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will show you the lowest airfares across every month.
Save time looking for cheap flights from ALA to CIT by creating a Price Alert. You'll receive an email or push notification on the app when fares go down.
Find the perfect flight for you with the help of the filters. To see the 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest' flights from Almaty Airport to Shymkent Airport, use the 'Sort by' function. You can also filter by departure and arrival times, airline, and number of stops.
Handy information about Almaty Airport (ALA)
When it comes to Almaty Airport's on-time performance, 61.23% of flights stick to their scheduled arrival time.
To reach Almaty Airport from central Almaty, it takes around 35 minutes if you're going by car. Of course, this depends on traffic. It's approximately 24 kilometres from the airport to the city centre.
Get your journey off to a stress-free start by staying near ALA. Whether you're catching an early flight from Almaty Airport to Shymkent Airport or just don't like being rushed, these stays are the answer:
Arriving at Shymkent Airport (CIT)
Reserve a hotel near CIT if you have a late Almaty Airport to Shymkent Airport flight. Select one of these options and avoid the hassle of a long transfer:
Getting from Shymkent Airport (CIT) to central Shimkent
From Shymkent Airport, Shimkent is approximately 0.16 kilometres away. It takes around 0 hours to drive to the centre.
When to fly to Shymkent Airport (CIT)
The quietest month for a flight from Almaty Airport to Shymkent Airport is February, while June is the busiest. Pick the best time to visit Shimkent based on whether you prefer a laid-back vibe or a more bustling atmosphere.
Before locking in your flight from Almaty Airport to Shymkent Airport, think about the type of weather you like. July is the warmest month in Shimkent, with the temperature ranging from 18ºC to 38ºC.
Search for cheap tickets from ALA to CIT in January if you like travelling in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest around then, ranging between -10ºC and 7ºC on average.
Explore more of Kazakhstan
Shimkent has loads to offer, but there are so many other corners of Kazakhstan waiting to be explored. Around 153 kilometres north-west of Shimkent, a trip to Turkestan will keep your itinerary busy. Check out popular attractions like The Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, Underground Mosque and Etnopark.
Another favourite destination in Kazakhstan, Zhangatas is roughly 137 kilometres north of Shimkent. Make time for highlights including Tsentral'nyy Park.