Manas International Airport
The major air arrivals hub in Kyrgyzstan, Manas International Airport is located 16 miles north of Bishkek and shares its complex with a US Air Force base operating military flights to Afghanistan. Approximately half a million passengers per year use the single terminal facility, which was renovated and redesigned in 2007. Travelers looking to take a domestic flight to Osh should note that all Kyrgyzstan airlines are banned in the EU and US due to safety concerns.
As a result, there are no direct flights to the US or Europe at all, leaving visitors with the choice to connect in Dubai, Istanbul or a Russian center such as Moscow or St Petersburg. Aeroflot offers routes to both cities, with flyDubai offering flights to Dubai and Turkish Airlines operating from Istanbul. Various other Central Asian and smaller Russian airlines fly to Kiev, Ulan Bator, Tashkent, and Yekaterinburg, while Air Bishkek offers the occasional route to Seoul.
Facilities in the upgraded terminal include currency exchange, an ATM, several shops including a duty-free outlet, restaurants, and coffee shops, a full-service business center, parking facilities, and car rental. The terminal itself is modern and comfortable, and onward transportation is by local bus, hotel shuttle, minibus, or shared taxi. Travelers should note that international arrivals and departures are often scheduled at uncommon hours so be prepared to arrive very early or very late.
Osh International Airport
Another option to get to Kyrgyzstan is through Osh Airport, a short drive from the city which has international flights to Moscow, St Petersburg, Irkutsk, Istanbul, and Urumqi in Southern China. Airlines operating here include Turkish Airlines, Aeroflot, Air Bishkek, S7 Airlines, and Ural Airlines. Terminal facilities are basic and ground transportation is by hotel shuttle, shared taxi or shared minibus.