Ashgabat International Airport (ASB), Ashkhabad

The airport at a glance

• Ashgabat International Airport (ASB) is Turkmenistan's main airport and the hub of Turkmenistan Airlines. It is run by the Turkmenhowaýollary State Service.
• The passenger terminal opened on 17 September 2016 and is designed in the shape of a falcon. The project cost about $2.3 billion and the terminal was built for 14 million passengers a year.
• Scheduled airlines are Turkmenistan Airlines, Turkish Airlines, flydubai, S7 Airlines and China Southern Airlines. Turkmenistan Airlines flies to Istanbul, Frankfurt, London Gatwick, Milan Malpensa, Beijing, Delhi, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City, Seoul and Kazan, among others.
• The airport has two parallel 3,800-metre runways, long enough for the largest airliners, including the A380.
• Citizens of all countries may transit visa-free through the international transit area. The Laçyn Hotel is inside the transit zone.

Getting into Ashgabat

• The airport is inside the Ashgabat city limits, about 10 km from the centre. A car journey takes roughly 15–25 minutes, depending on the destination in the city.
• Bus: lines 1 and 22 leave from the exit of Terminal 2 and run to the city centre. Turkish Airlines gives the fare as 0.3 manat, the journey as about 30–35 minutes, and the last bus at 23:00. Lines 18, 58 and 76 also serve the airport.
• Taxi: taxis are not metered and there is no published tariff, so agree the fare before getting in. The trip into town costs about 10 manat, but this figure is undated and may be out of date.
• There is no metro or rail link and no airport express bus. Ride-hailing apps are not available, so pre-book a hotel or private transfer if you want a fixed price.
• Driving: the airport connects to the city by a four-lane motorway, with multi-level parking mostly underground beside the terminal.

Partner link: we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

Arriving in Turkmenistan

• Most foreign nationals need a visa to enter Turkmenistan, and tourists have traditionally needed an invitation letter from a local tour agency or host. Preparation can take weeks or months.
• The State Migration Service announced on 30 September 2026 that an electronic visa (e-Visa) system and an online registration system for foreign citizens would start on 1 October 2026. The application portal is evisa.migration.gov.tm.
• Details of the e-Visa are still unclear: it is not yet clear who can use it or whether the invitation letter will still be required for tourists. Separate requirements apply to business and humanitarian e-visas. Check with the State Migration Service or a Turkmen embassy before booking.
• The US State Department advises that visas can be applied for at Turkmen diplomatic missions abroad, and that an applicant arriving without a visa or a certified letter of invitation may face problems. Have the visa and invitation documents ready before boarding.
• Passengers who only change planes can use the international transit area visa-free.

Lounges

• The Business Lounge is the only lounge open at the airport. After transit security, take the escalator down to the main terminal level. The lounge is nearby on the right, up another set of escalators.
• No opening hours are published. It has food, non-alcoholic drinks and Wi-Fi.
• Entry is by boarding pass: Turkmenistan Airlines business class passengers can use it in Ashgabat. It is not part of Priority Pass and no pay-in entry is published.
• Signs also point to a second lounge at the far end of the terminal, but it was unoccupied and not in use in July 2026.

Partner link: we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.