New Shymkent-Bangkok flight boosts Kazakhstan-Thailand ties

The launch of direct flights between Shymkent and Bangkok, operated by SCAT Airlines, marked a significant milestone in enhancing air connectivity between Kazakhstan and Thailand. 

The official ceremony on Tuesday (December 16) was attended by key figures including Margulan Baimukhan, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Thailand; Nikolay Buryakov, Commercial Director of SCAT Airlines; Chiravadee Khunsub, Deputy Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand; and Ohm Apichari, Adviser to the Thai Ministry of Industry.

Ambassador Baimukhan highlighted the event’s symbolic importance, noting that its timing coincided with Kazakhstan’s Independence Day celebrations, which added further significance to the new route’s launch. 

He pointed out that the introduction of the Shymkent-Bangkok service increases the total number of direct flights between the two countries to 23 per week, setting a new record. This reflects the growing mutual tourism, business ties, and cultural exchanges between Kazakhstan and Thailand.

The new route, which will operate twice a week, not only expands the air travel options between the two nations but also opens new opportunities for logistics, air cargo, and investment cooperation. 

It enhances Kazakhstan’s position as a key transport hub bridging East and West, while bolstering Thailand’s role as a central hub in Southeast Asia.

“Shymkent – Kazakhstan’s third-largest city and a major industrial and cultural center of southern Kazakhstan – now becomes directly linked with Bangkok, one of the world’s most visited cities,”  Baimukhan said.

“This strengthens ties between two dynamic regions and opens new opportunities for tourism and business.”

Buryakov, discussing SCAT Airlines’ long-term plans, revealed that the airline aims to turn Shymkent into a regional aviation hub, expanding its network to Europe, Russia, the South Caucasus, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, the Asia-Pacific region, and the Middle East. 

With plans to increase its fleet between 2027 and 2030, SCAT also recently opened a new passenger terminal in Shymkent and intends to expand its Bangkok service to four flights per week by the end of 2026. 

In 2025, the airline added new destinations including Budapest, Krasnoyarsk, Munich, Prague, and Tbilisi, with future routes planned for Austria, Azerbaijan, India, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Russia, and the Czech Republic.

Chiravadee Khunsub of the Tourism Authority of Thailand congratulated those involved in the new route’s launch, emphasising its potential to enhance mutual tourism, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people connections.

She noted that in 2024, over 170,000 Kazakhstani nationals visited Thailand, with further growth expected in 2025, largely driven by the visa-free travel arrangement between the two countries.

“Thailand, known as the Land of Smiles, welcomes visitors with its warm hospitality, rich culture, wellness experiences, and diverse natural attractions. At the same time, this new route will encourage Thai travellers and businesses to explore and learn more about Kazakhstan, its culture, traditions, and people,” Chiravadee said.

“In this way, aviation becomes a bridge for mutual learning and understanding between the two countries. I am confident that the Shymkent-Bangkok route will grow successfully and become a strong, sustainable link between our two countries.”

SCAT Airlines, one of Kazakhstan's oldest carriers with 28 years of experience, currently operates a fleet of 36 aircraft and owns terminals in Shymkent and Taraz. In 2026, the airline plans to introduce new routes, further strengthening its network and expanding its reach.

Currently, 23 weekly flights are operated between Kazakhstan and Thailand by Air Astana, SCAT Airlines, and Thai AirAsia X, further solidifying the strong air links between the two nations.