How to Travel to Central Asia
How to Travel to Central Asia
Central Asia is a vast area and you will need to book your flights depending on your planned tour itinerary. On this page, you can find information about the main airports and airlines that travel inside and to Central Asia. We’ll also look at how you can travel to Central Asia from places like Europe, USA, UAE, India, and other Asian countries.
Almaty (Kazakhstan)
Aktau (Kazakhstan)
Astana (Kazakhstan)
Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan)
Osh (Kyrgyzstan)
Tashkent (Uzbekistan)
Samarkand (Uzbekistan)
Dushanbe (Tajikistan)
Ashgabat (Turkmenistan)
Almaty (Kazakhstan)
Airport
Almaty International Airport (ALA)
The airport sits 15 km to the north of the city center. Since flights operate throughout the day and night, most airport facilities remain open 24/7, and you can easily access the terminal without encountering security barriers. Arrivals are on the ground floor, while Departures are on the upper floor, accompanied by a good selection of cafes and shops on the ground level.
The national flag carrier is Air Astana, providing flights across Central Asia and the Middle East. Journeys from the west typically involve at least one flight change, with Frankfurt and Istanbul usually being the most convenient options. Unfortunately, there are no direct flights from the USA.
Destination and airlines
- New York, USA (Qatar Airways: layover in Qatar)
- London, Great Britain (Pegasus Airlines, Turkish Airlines: layover in Istanbul)
- European Union:
- Milan, Italy (Neos: direct flights)
- Frankfurt, Germany (Lufthansa: direct flights)
- Dubai, UAE (Flydubai, Air Arabia, Air Astana: direct flights)
- Istanbul, Turkey ( Pegasus, Air Astana, Scat Air, Turkish Airlines: direct flights)
- New Delhi, India (Air Astana, IndiGo Airlines: direct flights)
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (AirAsia X: direct flights)
- Singapore, Singapore (Qatar Airways: layover in Qatar)
Aktau (Kazakhstan)
Airport
Aktau Airport (SCO)
The airport is situated 24 km to the north of the city center. The most economical way to travel to Aktau is by using SCAT or Azerbaijan Air from Baku or Tbilisi. Direct international flights connect Aktau with London, Istanbul, and Tbilisi.
Destination and airlines
- New York, USA (different airlines: at least two layovers)
- London, Great Britain (Air Astana: direct flight)
- European Union (different airlines: at least one layover)
- Dubai, UAE (Azerbaijan Airlines, Air Astana: one layover in Baku or Almaty)
- Istanbul, Turkey (Air Astana, Scat Air, Turkish Airlines: one layover in Baku or Almaty)
- New Delhi, India (Air Astana: one layover in Almaty)
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (different airlines: at least two layovers)
- Singapore, Singapore (different airlines: at least two layovers)
Astana (Kazakhstan)
Airport
Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport (NQZ)
Situated approximately 15 km south of downtown Nursultan, this airport serves as the main aviation hub for northern Kazakhstan. Within the region, it ranks as the second-busiest international air passenger gateway to Central Asia, following Almaty International Airport (ALA). Airline Air Astana operates flights to numerous international destinations spanning Europe, Central Asia, South Asia, and East Asia.
Destination and airlines
- New York, USA (Turkish Airlines: layover in Istanbul)
- London, Great Britain (Pegasus Airlines, Turkish Airlines, LOT: layover in Istanbul, Ankara or Warsaw)
- European Union:
- Warsaw, Poland (LOT: direct flights)
- Frankfurt, Germany (Lufthansa, Air Astana: direct flights)
- Dubai, UAE (Flydubai, Air Astana: direct flights)
- Istanbul, Turkey (Air Astana, Scat Air, Turkish Airlines, Pegasus: direct flights)
- New Delhi, India (Air Astana: Â layover in Almaty)
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (different airlines: at least two layovers)
- Singapore, Singapore (different airlines: at least two layovers)
Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan)
Airport
Bishkek Manas International Airport (FRU)
The airport is situated 25 km north of the city center. It’s the main airport for Bishkek and is often the most affordable option for flying to Central Asia. Some airlines that offer flights to Bishkek from the United States include Turkish Airlines and Emirates (though flights may have layovers, like in Turkey). If you’re flying from Europe, there are connecting flights with a layover in Istanbul.
The airport operates 24 hours a day. You’ll find ATMs and a few small cafes and shops that are open all the time. Keep your baggage tag receipt with you, also, hold onto your boarding pass.
Destination and airlines
- New York, USA (Turkish Airlines: layover in Istanbul)
- London, Great Britain (Pegasus Airlines: layover in Istanbul)
- European Union (Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airlines:Â at least one layover in Istanbul)
- Dubai, UAEÂ (Flydubai, Air Arabia:Â direct flights)
- Istanbul, Turkey (Turkish Airlines, Pegasus:Â direct flights)
- New Delhi, India (Aero Nomad: direct flights twice a week)
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Emirates and others: layovers in Dubai or Adu Dhabi)
- Singapore, Singapore (different airlines: at least two layovers)
Osh (Kyrgyzstan)
Airport
Osh International Airport (OSS)
Osh Airport is located 11 km from the city center and caters to the needs of the city of Osh, Kyrgyzstan. It offers services connecting to the country’s capital, Bishkek, along with international flights to destinations in Asia and Eastern Europe.
Destination and airlines
- New York, USA (different airlines: at least two layovers)
- London, Great Britain (Pegasus Airlines and other airlines: one layover in Istanbul)
- European Union (Pegasus Airlines and other airlines: one layover in Istanbul)
- Dubai, UAE (Air Arabia: direct flights)
- Istanbul, Turkey (Pegasus: direct flights)
- New Delhi, India (Air Arabia and other airlines: at least one layover in Sharjah)
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (different airlines: three layovers)
- Singapore, Singapore (different airlines: at least two layovers)
Tashkent (Uzbekistan)
Airport
Tashkent International Airport (TAS)
As the primary international airport of Uzbekistan and the third busiest in Central Asia, this airport is positioned 12 km from the center of Tashkent. The airport consists of two terminals, each with its dedicated building: Terminal 3 for domestic flights and Terminal 2 for international flights. To travel between them, a 10-minute taxi ride is the only option.
Various facilities cater to transit travelers, including duty-free shops, bars, restaurants, currency exchange counters, waiting lounges, VIP lounges, and ticket booking offices on the first and third floors. Serving as the hub for the national airline Uzbekistan Airways, Tashkent International plays a crucial role in air transportation in the region.
Destination and airlines
- New York, USA (Uzbekistan Airways: direct flights)
- London, Great Britain (Uzbekistan Airways: direct flights)
- European Union:
- Paris, France (Uzbekistan Airways: direct flights)
- Frankfurt, Germany (Uzbekistan Airways: direct flights)
- Munich, Germany (Uzbekistan Airways: direct flights)
- Milan, Italy (Uzbekistan Airways: direct flights)
- Warsaw, Poland (LOT: direct flights)
- Madrid, Spain (Taban Air: direct flights)
- Dubai, UAE (Flydubai, Air Arabia, Uzbekistan Airways: direct flights)
- Istanbul, Turkey (Turkish Airlines, Uzbekistan Airways: direct flights)
- New Delhi, India (IndiGo Airlines, Uzbekistan Airways: direct flights)
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Uzbekistan Airways, Batik Air: direct flights)
- Singapore, Singapore (Singapore Airlines and other airlines: one layover in Kuala Lumpur)
Samarkand (Uzbekistan)
Airport
Samarkand International Airport (SKD)
Situated 6 km from the city center, Samarkand International Airport ranks as the second busiest in Uzbekistan, following Tashkent. Operated by Uzbekistan Airways, the airport handles both domestic and international flights. In 2022, a newly inaugurated terminal became operational, with the capacity to serve 1200 passengers per hour. The terminal’s design, resembling an open book, serves as a symbolic representation of the renowned scientist Mirzo Ulugbek’s significant work, “The New Astronomical Table of Kuragoni.”
Destination and airlines
- New York, USA (Turkish Airlines and other airlines: at least one layover in Istanbul)
- London, Great Britain (different airlines: at least one layover in Istanbul)
- European Union (different airlines: at least one layover)
- Dubai, UAE (Flydubai: direct flights)
- Istanbul, Turkey (Turkish Airlines, Uzbekistan Airways: direct flights)
- New Delhi, India (different airlines: at least one layover)
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (different airlines: at least two layovers)
- Singapore, Singapore (different airlines: two layovers)
Dushanbe (Tajikistan)
Airport
Dushanbe Airport (DYU)
This airport serves as the central hub for air travel within Tajikistan and is situated 2 km south of the city. Also, it functions as the primary international airport in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, and serves as a hub for Somon Air and Tajik Air airlines. Somon Air operates direct flights to Dubai and Istanbul.
Destination and airlines
- New York, USA (different airlines: at least one layover)
- London, Great Britain (Emirates and other airlines: at least one layover in Dubai)
- European Union (different airlines: at least one layover)
- Dubai, UAE (Flydubai: direct flights)
- Istanbul, Turkey (Turkish Airlines: direct flights)
- New Delhi, India (Somon Air, Uzbekistan Airways, IndiGo: direct flights or one layover in Tashkent)
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (different airlines: at least one layover)
- Singapore, Singapore (different airlines: at least one layover)
Ashgabat (Turkmenistan)
Airport
Ashgabat International Airport (ASB)
This airport is among the five international airports in Turkmenistan. Situated within the city boundaries of Ashgabat, the original airport started operations in 1994 and was named in honor of the country’s first president, Saparmyrat Niyazov. In September 2016, the new airport terminal was unveiled, having undergone a complete redesign and reconstruction.
Destination and airlines
- New York, USA (Turkish Airlines: layover in Istanbul)
- London, Great Britain (Turkish Airlines: layover in Istanbul)
- European Union (Turkish Airlines: layover in Istanbul)
- Dubai, UAE (Flydubai: direct flights)
- Istanbul, Turkey (Turkish Airlines: direct flights)
- New Delhi, India (Turkish Airlines: layover in Istanbul)
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Turkish Airlines: layover in Istanbul)
- Singapore, Singapore (Turkish Airlines, Emirates: layover in Istanbul or Dubai)
Page updated 12.2.2024