SCAT begins direct flights between Shymkent and Munich
The first SCAT plane arrived at Munich airport to start regular direct flights between Shymkent and Germany’s city Munich.
A historic milestone was reached today, on 27th of May, as SCAT Airlines inaugurated the first regular direct flight between Shymkent, Kazakhstan, and Munich, Germany. With a slightly delay of 14 minutes, at 7:44 a.m. local time, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 of the Kazakh carrier took off from Shymkent International Airport, heading westward to one of Europe’s major aviation hubs.
After a smooth and fast journey of 5 hours and 55 minutes, flight DV484 landed, just 4 minutes late, at 10:39 a.m. local time at Munich “Franz Josef Strauss” International Airport. To commemorate this inaugural service, the aircraft was greeted on the taxiway with a ceremonial water salute from the airport’s fire brigade—a tradition symbolizing a warm welcome and marking the beginning of a new route.
Upon arrival at the gate at Terminal 1, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held with representatives from SCAT Airlines, airport officials, and invited guests. Passengers aboard the historic flight were also gifted commemorative souvenirs, creating a memorable experience for those witnessing this first-ever air link between the southern Kazakh city and Bavaria’s capital.
SCAT Airlines plans to operate the Shymkent–Munich route three times a week—on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and later in the year on Saturdays—using its modern Boeing 737 fleet. This new route marks SCAT’s expanding footprint in Europe and strengthens the growing economic and cultural connections between Kazakhstan and Germany.
Munich, Germany’s third-largest city, is a major center for technology, finance, and education, and is home to a large Central Asian diaspora. Likewise, Shymkent—Kazakhstan’s third-largest city—is a dynamic economic and industrial hub with a growing population, playing a key role in the country’s south.
For travelers, the new route opens up convenient options not only for tourism and family visits but also for trade and business exchanges. The direct flight reduces travel time significantly compared to previous options, which often required layovers in Astana, Almaty or Istanbul.
As SCAT’s home base and central hub, Shymkent International Airport offers onward connections to a wide range of domestic and international destinations. Passengers arriving in Shymkent can easily continue their journey to major Kazakh cities such as Astana, Almaty, Aktau, and others. International travelers also benefit from flights to key destinations in East and Central Asia, including Ürümqi, Xi’an, Shanghai, and Seoul.
The launch of this route represents another step in SCAT Airlines’ broader strategy to expand its international network and position Shymkent as a key transit point in Central Asia.
You can book your flight ticket on the SCAT website: