Flying from Shimkent Airport (CIT) to Almaty Airport (ALA): what you need to know
The average length of a direct flight from Shimkent Airport to Almaty Airport is 1 hour 15 minutes.
Shimkent and Almaty are in the same timezone, UTC+5.
Flights from CIT to ALA start at 05:30 — the earliest with SCAT Airlines. The last service of the day is at 23:30 with SCAT Airlines. In total, there are 55 weekly Shimkent Airport to Almaty Airport flights.
For a stress-free journey, turn up at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. This ensures you have enough time to board your CIT to ALA flight.
Travelling during a peak month such as July? Public holidays and other popular seasons can result in longer queues and delays at security. Play it safe and get there up to four hours ahead of international flights and two hours before a domestic departure.
Scat Airlines has direct flights from Shimkent Airport to Almaty Airport. Book with this popular carrier, then get ready to tick off the sights in Almaty — and maybe even more of Kazakhstan if your schedule allows.
Scat Airlines is the airline most travellers choose for this route.
FlyArystan is the most punctual carrier offering CIT to ALA flights. An exceptional 81.01% of its services on this route arrive as planned.
We make it a breeze to book a flight with a stopover. To see all your options for tickets from Shimkent Airport to Almaty Airport, uncheck 'Direct flights only.' Then, pick a flight with a stop long enough to tour your chosen city. Some great stopovers between CIT and ALA include:
Aktau Airport
Aktobe Airport
Kostanay Airport
Handy information about Shimkent Airport (CIT)
71% of flights that take off from Shimkent Airport land at their destination on schedule.
Central Shimkent to Shimkent Airport is approximately 11 kilometres. Depending on traffic, it'll take you about 20 minutes to get there if you're driving, ride-sharing or catching a taxi.
The journey when using public transport will take about 40 minutes.
Get your journey off to a stress-free start by staying near CIT. Whether you're catching an early flight from Shimkent Airport to Almaty Airport or want to avoid feeling rushed, these hotels are the answer:
Arriving at Almaty Airport (ALA)
The last thing you need is a lengthy journey to your hotel if you're arriving on a late Shimkent Airport to Almaty Airport flight. Book one of these accommodation options near ALA instead:
Grab a Almaty Airport rental car and explore Almaty and beyond with your own wheels. AmiGo!, Hertz and Vladex are well-known companies you can book with here.
Lock in the best possible rate by booking your vehicle from Almaty Airport around two weeks before your departure date.
Getting from Almaty Airport (ALA) to central Almaty
Almaty Airport is approximately 14 kilometres from the centre of Almaty. The drive time takes about 30 minutes.
Travelling on public transport takes roughly 50 minutes.
When to fly to Almaty Airport (ALA)
The quietest month for a flight from Shimkent Airport to Almaty Airport is March, while August is the most popular. Choose the ideal time to go to Almaty based on whether you prefer a faster pace or a more relaxed vibe.
Lock in your flight from Shimkent Airport to Almaty Airport for July if you'd like to explore Almaty during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures of between 12ºC (54ºF) and 33ºC (91ºF).
For cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from CIT to ALA in January. Temperatures average between -16ºC (3ºF) and 3ºC (37ºF) then.
