Kazakhstan may be a rather unfamiliar destination for Vietnamese travelers, but it promises to be a great choice for those who love exploring new lands. This Central Asian country boasts breathtaking natural beauty with its lush green pastures, majestic mountain peaks, and romantic glaciers. Here, there is also a rich culture with religious diversity and many modern, unique architectural works. If you plan to travel to Kazakhstan in the near future, you can choose to visit Almaty - an ancient city of Kazakhstan that can be conveniently reached by plane.

To make your journey to explore Almaty, Kazakhstan easier and more convenient, in addition to information about flight tickets, do not miss the details and notes about Almaty Airport (Almaty Airport) in the article below.

1. Does Almaty, Kazakhstan have an airport?

Almaty is one of the largest and oldest cities in Kazakhstan, located in the southeast of the country, beneath the Tian Shan mountain range. This city was the capital of Kazakhstan until 1997 and remains an important cultural, financial, and media center of Central Asia.

Because of this, the infrastructure and transportation system here are modern, meeting the travel needs of tourists. Domestic and international travelers can fly to Almaty International Airport. Although the airport is not very large, in recent years, Almaty Airport has been increasingly upgraded and improved. Currently, Almaty Airport has met international airport standards, fully serving domestic and international flight needs.

2. Introduction to Almaty International Airport

Almaty International Airport is located in the northeast of Almaty, 25 minutes from the city center. This is the busiest airport in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. In 2023, Almaty International Airport welcomed 9,547,136 passengers.

• Full name: Almaty International Airport (Almaty International Airport)
• Address: B. Mailin Street 2, Almaty, Kazakhstan
• Airport code (IATA): ALA
• Number of terminals: 2
• Number of floors: 2
• GMT hours: +6

3. The formation and development process of Almaty International Airport, Kazakhstan

• Initial phase: Almaty International Airport was built in 1935. At that time, the airport was used for military purposes. By 1954, Almaty Airport began operating as a civilian airport. In 1960, the first passenger terminal of the airport was built. In 1998, Almaty Airport became an international airport. Almaty International Airport was recognized as an international airport after the runway was rebuilt. However, in 1999, a fire occurred, which, although not causing casualties, caused some damage to the airport. After the incident, Almaty Airport was invested in upgrading and expanding.
• Expansion and development phase: In 2004, a new terminal was completed. By 2008, the second runway of the airport was officially inaugurated. This is the longest runway in Central Asia. In these years until April 2013, Almaty International Airport completed a comprehensive master plan development project to meet the increasing passenger traffic and cargo volume in the next two decades. On February 17, 2012, Almaty International Airport was recognized as the best airport in the CIS and received the award "For Achievements in the Development of International Airports" at the 32nd session of the Aviation Council and Airspace Use of the Federal Aviation Committee (IAC).
• In 2017: Almaty Airport was renamed Almaty International Airport. In 2022, due to fluctuations in the political situation, Almaty International Airport had to temporarily suspend many flights. However, currently, the operation and service for passengers at Almaty International Airport are still ongoing and secure. Passengers can rest assured when booking flights to Almaty International Airport. This airport remains an important center for tourism, commerce, and investment in Kazakhstan.

4. What flights does Almaty International Airport, Kazakhstan have?

As the busiest airport in Kazakhstan, Almaty International Airport serves over 50 domestic and international airlines, with flights to more than 20 destinations in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

4.1 Domestic flights

Almaty International Airport is the "hub" of major domestic airlines in Kazakhstan such as Air Astana, Fly Arystan,... The airport operates many flights to various major provinces in Kazakhstan.

4.2 International flights

The airport offers services to more than 20 destinations. Some renowned airlines such as British Midland Airways, Asiana Airlines, Etihad Airways, China Southern Airlines, Lufthansa,... provide services to Almaty.

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5. Overview of Almaty Airport, Kazakhstan

5.1 Scale, runway area

Almaty International Airport has two runways. The first runway is 4,400m long, 60m wide, and equipped with Cat IIB ABB lighting equipment since 1998, serving runway lighting in winter. The second runway, built in 2008, is longer than runway 1, at 4,500m. The new runway, also 60m wide, is equipped with Cat IIIB lighting equipment. This new runway can accommodate all types of aircraft without restrictions on takeoff weight and frequency of operations.

5.2 Terminals

At Almaty International Airport, Kazakhstan, there are 2 terminals.

• Terminal 1 of Almaty International Airport: This new terminal serves both domestic and international passengers. Terminal 1 has a special room for disabled passengers, elevators, and luggage conveyors. The first floor of the terminal is used for domestic passengers.
• Terminal 2 of Almaty International Airport: This is the old terminal of the airport; however, it is still fully equipped to meet various passenger needs. This terminal serves domestic flight passengers.

5.3 Amenities at the terminal

Almaty International Airport, Kazakhstan serves a variety of tourist needs with the following services:

• ATM counters operate with most international cards, serving the cash withdrawal needs of both domestic and international travelers.
• Currency exchange counters: There are also currency exchange counters for international travelers at the terminals.
• Free Wi-Fi: Travelers can use Wi-Fi at the airport. However, please note that you need a local SIM card to use the Wi-Fi.
• Dining area: There are dining areas for passengers at the terminals. However, the variety of food and drinks here is not highly rated by travelers. Prices here are also quite high, so you need to consider if you want to save costs.
• Special services are extended for VIP guests in separate lounges.
• In addition, there are also some other services such as gift shops, duty-free shops, medical facilities,...

6. How to get from Almaty International Airport to downtown Almaty, Kazakhstan

6.1 Traveling by bus

The most economical way to travel from Almaty International Airport to downtown and vice versa is by bus. Upon exiting the airport, depending on your destination, you can choose from several bus routes such as 79, 86, 92, or 106. The bus services operate every 15 minutes from 6 AM to 9 PM.

6.2 Traveling by taxi

There are many taxis available at the airport for you to choose from. There will be freelance taxi drivers always waiting outside the airport. However, when using this service, you need to pay attention to the pricing.

For safety and to avoid being overcharged, you can opt for the airport taxi service as they have fixed pricing. You can find the Eko-Taxi booth inside the airport, and their taxis are clearly marked with the company logo. Additionally, you can also book a ride using apps like Yandex or Uber.

The cost of traveling by taxi is around 2500 – 3000 Tenge (approximately 144,000 - 173,000 VND), depending on where you need to go in Almaty.

6.3 Hotel shuttle service

At the hotel where you have booked a room, if they provide airport shuttle service, you should contact them to use this service. Depending on the specific accommodation, the service may be free or may require an additional fee.

6.4 Renting a car for travel

Almaty International Airport also has its own car rental service. The car rental service here is called Europcar and has a service counter at the airport. If needed, you can rent a car directly here.

We hope the information about Almaty International Airport, Kazakhstan above will be helpful for your upcoming trip to Almaty, Kazakhstan. Don't forget to hunt for flight tickets to Almaty International Airport at Vietjet for just 0 VND! The program takes place every Friday. See detailsHERE!

See more: A collection of the latest self-guided travel experiences in Kazakhstan

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