Almaty International Airport
Almaty International is the largest airport in Kazakhstan and receives the most traffic, seeing over three million passengers a year. Since the closure of Air Kazakhstan in 2004, the main national airline is Air Astana, which handles most flights into the country.
There are several flights from Europe, Asia and the United States. British Airways flies from Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston Logan, and Chicago O’Hare, while Lufthansa offers connections from Dallas Fort Worth, Denver and Detroit Wayne County. KLM flies from Memphis, Minneapolis St Paul and Houston George Bush International.
The airport is located six miles northeast of Almaty city center and there are two main modes of transportation for the 20 minute journey. Airport shuttles depart at regular intervals and there are many taxi companies waiting outside of the Arrivals terminal.
The Kazakhstan airport is well-equipped and provides many services for passengers. ATMs and currency exchanges outlets are available, as are banks. There are many restaurants, cafés, bars, and of course, gift shops and duty-free stores.
Astana International Airport
Astana International Airport is located just outside the capital and is the second busiest airport in Kazakhstan. That said, the gateway receives a significant amount of traffic from all areas of the globe, including the United States.
Travelers from America have a few options, with Turkish Airlines flying from Houston, Los Angeles and Chicago O’Hare; Etihad Airways from New York JFK, Washington Dulles, and Chicago O’Hare; and Lufthansa from Miami, Orlando and Philadelphia.
The airport is situated about nine miles outside of Astana city. Travelers can make use of the many taxis to make the short trip downtown. Most of the private cab companies have vehicles waiting just outside of the International Arrivals area.
While the airport is smaller than the one in Almaty, there are still comparable services available for travelers. Banks are readily available, including ATMs and currency exchange. There is a post office, internet and gift shops and duty-free stores are located in both terminals, as well as restaurants, bars and cafés.