Translate
Kazakhstan's Caspian gateway serving the oil-rich western region.
Location
Aktau, Kazakhstan
Aktau International Airport (IATA: SCO, ICAO: UATE) serves the city of Aktau, the administrative center of Mangystau Region in western Kazakhstan, situated on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea. The airport is a critical hub for the region's substantial oil and gas industry, handling both commercial passenger traffic and significant volumes of business aviation related to energy sector operations.
The airport offers connections to major Kazakhstani cities such as Almaty and Nur-Sultan (Astana), as well as international routes to destinations in Russia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. Its strategic location near major oil fields and the Caspian seaport makes it an important transport node for the broader Central Asian energy sector.
In recent years, the airport has undergone infrastructure improvements to accommodate growing passenger and cargo demand driven by ongoing hydrocarbon development projects in the Mangystau region.
Terminals
The airport operates a single passenger terminal handling both domestic and international flights.
Getting to & from
Passengers can reach Aktau city center, located approximately 15 kilometers from the airport, by taxi or private vehicle, with limited public bus options available.
Airlines here
Major carriers serving Aktau include Air Astana, SCAT Airlines, FlyArystan, and Turkish Airlines, among others.
Notable facts
- ›Located on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea in one of Kazakhstan's most oil-rich regions.
- ›Serves as an important logistics hub for major oil projects including the Kashagan and Tengiz fields.
- ›The airport handles a notable proportion of charter and business aviation traffic related to the energy sector.
- ›Aktau (formerly known as Shevchenko during the Soviet era) is a major Caspian port city.
- ›The airport code SCO derives from the city's former Russian-language name, Shevchenko.
This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.
