Aktau Airport (SCO)
Aktau, KZ 🇰🇿 Medium Airport Scheduled Service
ICAO
UATE
IATA
SCO
Elevation
73 ft
Region
KZ-MAN
Local Time
Loading...
Loading...Airport Information
GPS Code: UATE
Local Code: Not available
Location: 43.860093° N, 51.09086° E
Continent: Asia
Type: Medium Airport
Keywords: Akshukyr
What Travelers Say
Share Your Tip
Help fellow travelers by sharing your experience at Aktau Airport. Tips are reviewed before publishing.
Online Reviews Summary
Recent traveler reviews for Aktau Airport (UATE (SCO)) suggest a mixed but generally lower satisfaction experience. While some aspects like cleanliness are appreciated, many travelers express frustration with limited facilities, unreliable public transport, and slow processes. The airport often serves as a functional point for onward travel rather than a comfortable hub.
What Travelers Love
- Cleanliness: The airport generally maintains a good level of cleanliness.
- Staff Helpfulness: Many travelers report that airport staff are helpful, with a 65% positive rating for staff satisfaction.
- Security Check Efficiency: Security checks and inspection processes are moderately valued and rated relatively well by passengers.
- VIP/CIP Lounges: For those seeking a premium experience, VIP/CIP lounges offer comfortable seating, Wi-Fi, and other amenities.
- Working Wi-Fi: Some recent travelers have reported good working Wi-Fi availability in the airport.
Common Complaints
- Limited Public Transportation: There is a significant lack of reliable public transport options to and from the city, especially during early morning hours, making taxis almost the sole option.
- Pushy Taxi Drivers: Travelers frequently encounter aggressive "illegal" taxi drivers upon arrival who may claim public transport is non-existent.
- Poor Terminal Facilities & Seating: Overall terminal facilities, including waiting rooms, receive low ratings, with a particular issue being non-working charging sockets in seating areas.
- Inconsistent Wi-Fi and Connectivity Issues: While Wi-Fi exists, some users report inconsistent or spotty connections, with one experience noting it required a local SIM card to connect.
- Slow Check-in and Baggage Claim: Check-in processes can be very slow, with one traveler reporting a 90-minute wait for a small flight, and baggage claim also receives negative feedback.
- Limited Food and Retail: Options for food and retail services are often rated poorly and are considered limited.
- Non-functioning ATMs: A traveler in June 2025 reported that ATMs at the airport were not functioning at all, making it difficult to obtain local currency.
- Difficulty Obtaining Local SIM Cards: There is no dedicated SIM card kiosk, though a mini-market might offer Tele2 SIM cards with helpful staff.
Overall, Aktau Airport appears to offer a basic and sometimes challenging experience for travelers, with significant areas for improvement, particularly regarding ground transportation options and the quality of terminal amenities. Travelers should plan their arrival and departure carefully, especially concerning cash for taxis and connectivity.
Researching traveler experiences online...
Community Tips
No community tips yet for Aktau Airport.
Be the first to share a helpful tip for fellow travelers!
Current Weather Conditions
Loading weather data...
Airport Routes
Aktau Airport (SCO) offers 27 flight routes operated by 8 airlines. Major carriers include FlyArystan, SCAT Airlines, Air Astana and others. Popular destinations from Aktau include Nursultan Nazarbayev Int'l, Almaty, Heydar Aliyev Int'l, Istanbul Airport and Shymkent.
Route Network Map
Top Routes (by observations)
Newly Discovered
- Heydar Aliyev Int'l (GYD) new
- Almaty (ALA) new
- Nursultan Nazarbayev Int'l (NQZ) new
- Aktyubinsk (AKX) new
- Shymkent (CIT) new
- Atyrau (GUW) new
- Karaganda (KGF) new
- Turkistan Int'l (HSA) new
- Tbilisi Int'l (TBS) new
- King Abdulaziz Int'l (JED) new
- Uralsk (URA) new
- Kokshetau (KOV) new
Popular Flight Routes
| Destination | IATA | City | Aircraft Type | Airline | Details | Route Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Loading...
Loading routes...
|
||||||
Top Airlines
Operating at Aktau AirportAirlines by Flight Activity
Based on observed flight operations and route network| Airline | Routes | Flights | Destinations | Last Activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
FlyArystan
AYN
/ FS
|
11 | 474 | 11 | Jan 30, 2026 |
|
SCAT Airlines
VSV
/ DV
|
7 | 239 | 7 | Jan 30, 2026 |
|
Air Astana
KZR
/ KC
|
4 | 95 | 4 | Jan 30, 2026 |
|
Azerbaijan Airlines
AHY
/ J2
|
1 | 37 | 1 | Jan 30, 2026 |
Pegasus Airlines
PGT
/ PC
|
1 | 16 | 1 | Jan 21, 2026 |
Aeroflot
AFL
/ SU
|
1 | 13 | 1 | Dec 28, 2025 |
Turkish Airlines
THY
/ TK
|
1 | 9 | 1 | Dec 6, 2025 |
|
My Freighter
MFX
/ C6
|
1 | 5 | 1 | Dec 6, 2025 |
For Pilots
| Designation | Length | Width | Surface | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
12/30 |
10013 ft | 148 ft | ASP | Active Lighted |
12L/30R |
9630 ft | 150 ft | GRE | Closed |
| Type | Description | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| A/G | Aktau Transit (Ground handling service) | 131.9 MHz |
| FIS | Aktau Region | 124.2 MHz |
| TWR | Aktau Tower | 120.7 MHz |
Ground Transportation
Taxis
Taxis are readily available outside the arrivals hall. Official airport taxis and ride-hailing services like Yandex Go are the most common options. The journey to the city center takes approximately 30-40 minutes. It is highly recommended to agree on a fare before starting your journey or use an app with a fixed price to avoid overcharging.
Rental Cars
Several local and international car rental agencies have desks inside the airport terminal. Companies like Avis and other local providers offer a range of vehicles. Booking in advance online is recommended to ensure availability and secure better rates. An International Driving Permit (IDP) may be required along with your national license.
Public Transportation
Public bus route No. 105 connects Aktau Airport with the city center. This is the most budget-friendly option, but services may be less frequent than taxis, especially during evenings and weekends. The bus stop is located just outside the terminal building. The journey time is significantly longer than by car.