Terminal A of Shymkent Airport — A Modern Aviation Hub of Southern Kazakhstan - ADU

The new Terminal A at Shymkent International Airport is more than just an architectural upgrade of the air gateway in Kazakhstan’s third-largest city. It is a modern, compact, and technologically advanced terminal, designed for passenger convenience and close integration with the country’s leading national carrier — SCAT Airlines.

Unified System: Airport and Airline

Terminal A was developed with the operational needs and logistics of SCAT Airlines — the airport’s primary base carrier — in mind. This ensures seamless coordination across all passenger service stages, from check-in to boarding. Airport and airline services are integrated under a single-window model, enhancing both the speed and comfort of the travel experience.

Compact Design as an Advantage

One of the terminal’s key strengths is its ergonomic layout. This is not a sprawling mega-hub where passengers must walk long distances. Everything is close: check-in counters, security checkpoints, waiting areas, and boarding gates are arranged to minimize walking time and waiting. This is particularly important given the high flight turnaround and growing passenger traffic.

Modern Technologies and Services

The terminal incorporates advanced technological solutions:

Electronic self-service check-in kiosks
Automated security control systems
Digital information displays
Free Wi-Fi and co-working zones for business travelers

Environmental sustainability and energy efficiency are also a major focus, with all systems aligned with international standards.

Convenience for Transit Passengers

Located at the crossroads of major air routes connecting southern Kazakhstan with Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Russia, Terminal A offers ideal conditions for transit passengers:

Fast transfers
Easy-to-navigate design
Comfortable waiting areas
Growing number of international connections

Growth Potential

Hundreds of thousands of passengers have already passed through the new terminal — and the flow is steadily increasing. Future plans include expanding SCAT Airlines’ route network and attracting new partners. Terminal A is becoming a center of aviation growth not only for Shymkent, but for all of southern Kazakhstan.

Key Figures and Scale

709,200 passengers served in the first 6 months of 2025
Passenger traffic increased by 30% compared to the same period in 2024
A record 3 million passengers are expected by the end of this year
Terminal capacity: up to 10 million passengers per year

For comparison: in 2019, before the pandemic, the entire Shymkent Airport handled around 850,000 passengers annually — a number now potentially reached within just the first half of 2025.

Unified Ecosystem: SCAT + CIT

Terminal A was designed in line with the logistics of SCAT Airlines, which operates more than 50% of all flights from Shymkent, including key routes to Astana, Almaty, Aktau, Dubai, Istanbul, Baku, and other cities.

As a result:

Domestic-to-international transfers take as little as 45 minutes
SCAT and terminal services use a shared digital passenger flow management system
Baggage handling has improved by 20% on average compared to 2023

Compact Format — A Strategic Asset

Total area of Terminal A: 38,000 sq. meters — 1.5 times smaller than Astana’s new terminal, yet capable of handling up to 2,000 passengers per hour without congestion
Distance from entrance to boarding gates: less than 150 meters
Time from entry to gate during peak hours: up to 20 minutes

This compact format allows:

Reduced airline ground handling costs
Improved convenience for families and elderly passengers
High turnaround efficiency for flights

Technology and Comfort

Electronic registration (kiosks + online)
Advanced security scanning systems
Digital information systems
Free Wi-Fi, charging-enabled waiting zones, coworking spaces
Inclusive environment: fully accessible for passengers with reduced mobility

Transit and Connection Efficiency

Thanks to its compact architecture and SCAT’s dense schedule, Terminal A serves as an ideal transfer point between southern Kazakhstan and:

Central Asia (Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan) and Russia
The Caucasus (Azerbaijan, Georgia)
Europe and Southeast Asia

Estimates suggest that by 2026, up to 25% of passenger flow may be transit traffic — with transfer times up to two times faster than in large hub terminals.

Future Expansion

Terminal A is already serving as a platform for SCAT’s growing route map. In 2025, direct flights from Shymkent were launched to:

East Asia: Seoul, Shanghai, Xi’an, and Urumqi
Europe and beyond: Munich, Budapest, Novosibirsk, and even Cairo in North Africa
Within Kazakhstan: Ust-Kamenogorsk, Aktobe, and Petropavlovsk

Frequencies have also significantly increased on existing routes.

Upcoming destinations include new routes to Europe, India, Vietnam, and Thailand — making Terminal A one of Kazakhstan’s most promising regional hubs.

Conclusion

Shymkent’s new Terminal A is not just infrastructure — it is a strategic driver of regional economic growth. In close cooperation with SCAT Airlines, it ensures: