Southeast Asia Information Port (www.dnyxxg.com) – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) held a press conference to announce the launch of SCAT Airlines' new direct flight route between Shmkent and Bangkok. This new route strengthens direct air links between Thailand and Kazakhstan, contributing to the continued growth of the Central Asian tourism market.
The event was attended by Kazakh Ambassador to Thailand, Magulan Baimuhan, Deputy Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Chirawati Kunsup (responsible for international marketing in Europe, America, the Middle East, and Africa), and SCAT Airlines' Commercial Director, Nikolai Buryakov, highlighting the crucial role of public-private partnerships in expanding international air services and promoting cross-border tourism.
Chirawati stated, “The launch of this route by SCAT Airlines is significant for airline partners, passengers, and businesses, building a direct bridge between the two cities and facilitating travel and cooperation.” She added that Central Asia is a potential source market for Thailand, and Thailand's visa-free policy (allowing a stay of 30 days, extendable to 60 days) effectively lowers the barriers to travel.
Chirawati further emphasized Thailand's diverse tourism appeal, noting its rich history, profound culture, and stunning scenery, which are highly favored by Kazakhstani tourists. "Whether tourists come for temples, cuisine, or coastal views, Thailand offers unforgettable experiences," she said. She also thanked SCAT Airlines and the Tourism Authority of Thailand's Moscow office for their collaboration in facilitating the smooth launch of the route.
The route is operated by a Boeing 737-800 aircraft (180 seats in all economy class), with one flight each Tuesday and Friday: flight DV469 arrives in Bangkok at 4:30 AM, and flight DV470 returns at 5:40 AM. The inaugural flight on December 16, 2025, carried 140 passengers, demonstrating the demand for direct flights between the two cities.
This route complements the existing Thai-Kazakhstan route network (including Almaty/Astana to Bangkok/Phuket flights operated by Air Astana and SCAT Airlines, and AirAsia Almaty to Bangkok flights), enriching passenger choices and facilitating travel between Central Asia and Thailand's gateway cities.
Kazakhstan is a crucial strategic source market for Thailand: before the pandemic, it received approximately 50,000-60,000 tourists annually, and has since experienced a strong recovery—reaching 172,489 tourists in 2023 (a year-on-year increase of 189%), and 195,089 tourists in 2024 (a year-on-year increase of 13.10%); from January 1st to December 14th, 2025, it has already received 152,783 tourists.
This market growth is attributed to increased flights, simplified visa procedures, effective marketing, and the growing popularity of Thai tourism among Kazakhstani citizens, which has driven cross-border tourism cooperation between the two countries.
SCAT Airlines has accelerated its expansion of international routes in recent years, planning to add more than ten new destinations in Asia and Europe by 2025. Using Shmkent International Airport as its hub, the company leverages its expanded fleet and cooperation with Boeing to build an air bridge between Central Asia and the world. The opening of this new route is expected to deepen people-to-people exchanges, cultural exchanges, and economic cooperation between Thailand and Kazakhstan, solidifying Thailand's position as a top tourist destination for Central Asian travelers.
