SINGAPORE — Travellers will soon have a new option for flying between Singapore and Central Asia, with Kazakhstan’s SCAT Airlines set to launch twice-weekly services linking Changi Airport with Shymkent from Oct 20.
The new service will operate via Sanya, a coastal city on China’s Hainan Island, marking a new connection between Singapore and Kazakhstan.
A new link to Central Asia
The SCAT Airlines service will connect Singapore to Shymkent, one of Kazakhstan’s major cities.
The route is significant for Changi Airport, as it will restore a direct air connection with Central Asia for the first time since 2019, according to Changi Airport.
Kazakhstan’s Civil Aviation Committee said the new route is expected to support tourism, investment and business ties between Kazakhstan and Singapore while strengthening Kazakhstan’s role as a transit hub in Central Asia.
Flights will stop in Sanya
Passengers travelling from Singapore will first fly to Sanya, China.
The flight from Singapore to Sanya is expected to take around three hours, followed by a two-hour transit stop before passengers continue on a flight of approximately 6.5 hours to Shymkent.
SCAT Airlines said travellers will not need to clear passport control in China during the transit, making the journey more convenient.
Service to operate twice a week
The new route will operate twice weekly using a Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.
Kazakhstan’s Civil Aviation Committee said the service will use fifth-freedom traffic rights, allowing SCAT Airlines to carry passengers not only between Kazakhstan and Singapore but also between Sanya and Singapore.
Gateway to southern Kazakhstan
Shymkent is located in southern Kazakhstan near the border with Uzbekistan.
The city is known for its history and surrounding landscapes and can also serve as a convenient starting point for travellers planning to explore other parts of Kazakhstan or cross into neighbouring Uzbekistan.
The new route adds another international connection to Shymkent, which Kazakhstan has been developing as an important aviation hub.
Tickets now available
Travellers can begin booking upcoming flights through SCAT Airlines.
The launch follows efforts by Singapore and Kazakhstan to strengthen aviation links. In 2024, the two countries upgraded their air services agreement to allow airlines greater flexibility in routing, capacity and operations between and beyond both countries.
The bottom line
Kazakhstan’s SCAT Airlines will begin twice-weekly flights connecting Singapore and Shymkent from Oct 20.
The service will operate via Sanya, China, with passengers able to transit without clearing Chinese passport control.
Operated by a Boeing 737 MAX 8, the route will give travellers a new way to reach southern Kazakhstan and reconnect Changi Airport with Central Asia.
The launch marks a new chapter in Singapore-Kazakhstan air connectivity and opens another travel option for passengers looking to explore Central Asia.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.D
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