Situated in the heart of Central Asia, Kazakhstan is a vast country bordering Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. Due to its size, domestic air travel in Kazakhstan is particularly popular among locals and tourists alike, with connections to almost all major towns and cities across the country.
In this guide, we’ll discuss which airlines fly domestically in Kazakhstan, the benefits of air travel over other transport methods, and which airports offer the most domestic routes.
To search for domestic flights in Kazakhstan, simply use our search form at the top of the page.
It’s very easy to fly domestically in Kazakhstan. Generally, you can find flights to most towns and cities in Kazakhstan from hubs such as Astana, Shymkent, and Almaty. Whilst major cities are well-connected by train, it is often difficult to reach smaller towns and cities (such as Kyzylorda and Turkistan) by land without complex & lengthy connections. Air travel offers travellers greater choice and convenience.
Kazakhstan is the ninth-largest country in the world, covering an area of 2.7 million square kilometres (approximately 1 million square miles). Consequently, travelling by train and bus between cities in Kazakhstan can be a lengthy affair. The fastest train journey between Almaty and Astana, for example, is 14 hours. A flight between the two cities takes just 1h 40m. It’s a no-brainer if you’re tight on time and want to enjoy the country to its fullest.
Air Astana is the flag carrier of Kazakhstan and the largest airline in Central Asia. With hubs at Nursultan International Airport (NQZ) and Almaty International Airport (ALA), Air Astana flies to 91 destinations worldwide.
Domestic destinations: Almaty, Aktau, Aktobe, Astana, Atyrau, Karaganda, Kostanay, Kyzylorda, Oskemen, Pavlodar, Semey, Shymkent, Turkistan, & Uralsk.
Air Astana’s domestic baggage allowance varies depending on fare class:
Air Astana delivers consistently excellent service on domestic Kazakhstan flights. Even on short-haul flights, expect in-flight entertainment, a light meal, and comfortable seating.
Headquartered in Almaty and a subsidiary of Air Astana, FlyArystan is the first low-cost carrier in Kazakhstan. With an extensive route network of 24 destinations, FlyArystan serves cities in Azerbaijan, China, Georgia, India, Kyrgyzstan, Qatar, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan. The airline flies to 14 destinations in Kazakhstan.
Domestic destinations: Almaty, Aktau, Aktobe, Astana, Atyrau, Karaganda, Kostanay, Kyzylorda, Oskemen, Pavlador, Semey, Shymkent, Turkistan, & Uralsk.
FlyArystan’s baggage policy is as follows:
FlyArystan operates a fleet of 16 Airbus A320/A320neo aircraft. We recommend FlyArystan for travellers looking for low-cost domestic flights in Kazakhstan.
Founded in 1997, SCAT Airlines (styled as SCAT) is one of the most famous airlines in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. With its hub at Shymkent International Airport (CIT), SCAT operates flights to 23 towns and cities in Kazakhstan and 37 international destinations. This includes cities in China, Egypt, Japan, Pakistan, Russia, and Saudi Arabia.
Domestic destinations: Almaty, Aktau, Aktobe, Astana, Atyrau, Balkhash, Karaganda, Kokshetau, Kostany, Kyzylorda, Oskemen, Pavlodar, Petropavl, Semey, Shymkent, Taldykorgan, Taraz, Turkistan, Uralsk, Urzhar, Usharal, Zaysan, & Zhezqazghan.
The baggage allowance with SCAT Airlines differs depending on fare class:
With an extensive domestic route network, SCAT Airlines is an excellent choice for travellers looking for flights in Kazakhstan. Their short-haul fleet consists mainly of Boeing 737 and 737 MAX aircraft.
From its hub at Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport (NQZ) in Astana, Qazaq Air focuses on domestic flights in Kazakhstan. The airline was established to improve the availability and safety of air traffic in Kazakhstan and the border areas of neighbouring countries.
Qazaq Air flies to 25 destinations including cities in Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Uzbekistan. 20 of its destinations are in Kazakhstan.
Domestic destinations: Almaty, Aktau, Aktobe, Astana, Atyrau, Balkhash, Karaganda, Kostany, Kyzylorda, Oskemen, Pavlodar, Petropavl, Semey, Shymkent, Taldykorgan, Taraz, Turkistan, Uralsk, Usharal, & Zhezqazghan.
The baggage allowance with Qazaq Air varies depending on fare class:
Qazaq Air operates De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 aircraft to all of its destinations.
Almaty International Airport is the largest airport in Kazakhstan and the primary hub of Air Astana. In 2023, the airport handled almost 10 million passengers, making it the busiest airport in Central Asia. Almaty Airport offers flights to the majority of major towns and cities in Kazakhstan.
Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport (formerly known as Astana International Airport) serves the city of Astana, the capital and second most populous city in Kazakhstan. It serves as the secondary hub for Air Astana and FlyArystan, the homebase for Qazaq Air, and the primary operating base for SCAT Airlines. You can easily find non-stop domestic flights within Kazakhstan from Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport.
The fourth busiest airport in Kazakhstan, Aktau International Airport serves the city of Aktau in the southwestern region of the country. It is a focus city for SCAT Airlines, who offer flights to 15 destinations from Aktau Airport.
Shymkent International Airport is the hub for SCAT Airlines. The airport is served by 8 airlines and offers regular flights to destinations in Kazakhstan.
It couldn’t be easier to book domestic flights in Kazakhstan with Alternative Airlines. We offer 40+ payment methods, including the Kazakhstani Tenge. You can also pay using cryptocurrencies, or choose Buy Now, Pay Later plans to spread the cost of your flights.
Use our search form at the top of the page and start your search for flights to Kazakhstan.
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There are currently 7 airlines that offer domestic services within Kazakhstan.
To book your next Kazakh flight use the search tool at the top of the page. Simply tell us where you want to fly to and from where you are travelling from, your dates, passengers and travel class then hit search. You'll be displayed all of the available flight options, but don't worry you'll be able to easily filter these to find the best options for your plans. Use our handy filters such as price, time, airline and more!
We accept over 160 different currencies giving you the flexibility in a way that suits you, this even includes Kazakhstani Tenge! Make use of our many payment options, there are over 40! We accept all major credit and debit cards including Visa, Mastercard, Diners club, American Express and more. Make use of one of our handy 'Buy Now, Pay Later' options to spread the cost of your booking or pay in crypto or with a virtual wallet such as Apple Pay.
Zhezair is a domestic airline that serves the city of Jezkazgan in the Republic of Kazakhstan. From Zhezkazgan Airport, the airline operates scheduled passenger flights to Jezkazgan (Zhezkazgan Airport) and Karagandy (Sary-Arka Airport).
Domestic flights are services that depart from and arrive in the same country, these are sometimes referred to as internal flights.
We always recommend that you arrive no later than 90 minutes prior to your scheduled flight.
