Kazakhstan is taking steps to enhance air connectivity with European countries, with plans to introduce non-stop flights to Austria, Hungary, Germany, and Latvia. This initiative follows a recent meeting of the Cooperation Council between the European Union and Kazakhstan in Luxembourg, where both parties welcomed the initialling of a Horizontal Aviation Agreement, which is expected to be finalized for signature shortly.
Photo: The country aims to enhance air connectivity with EuropeSource: Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan
The agreement on key aspects of air transportation was signed by Saltanat Tompieva, chairman of the Kazakhstan Civil Aviation Committee, and Simon Bryan, a policy officer for international aviation at the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport, European Commission. This process marks the final step in preparing the agreement for signing, providing a legal foundation for EU countries to establish direct flights to Kazakhstan in the future.
“This agreement will strengthen cooperation regarding the development of air traffic between Kazakhstan and European Union countries,” the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted.
This development builds on the significant progress made earlier this year when the European Commission lifted all restrictions on flights from Kazakh carriers to the EU. In 2009, Kazakh airlines were banned from flying to EU countries due to low compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. However, sustained safety efforts enabled Kazakhstan to be removed from the EU’s blacklist in late 2016. Despite this, the Bek Air crash in 2019 led to further inspections.
Following a technical assessment, the EU fully lifted restrictions on Kazakh airlines in May 2024, recognizing the substantial improvements in aviation safety in Kazakhstan.
Currently, Kazakhstan maintains direct air links with only five EU countries—Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, and Poland—where two Kazakh airlines and three European airlines operate a total of 34 weekly flights. The addition of Greece during the summer season brings the total to six countries.
Looking ahead, Kazakh airlines are actively working to expand air services, with plans to introduce flights to Budapest, Riga, Vienna, and Munich in the medium term. SCAT Airlines, in particular, aims to launch a service to Vienna in spring 2025.
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Source link : https://daryo.uz/en/2024/10/17/kazakhstan-plans-non-stop-flights-to-austria-hungary-and-germany-to-boost-air-links-with-europe
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Publish date : 2024-10-17 08:38:00
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