BISHKEK (TCA) — China Southern Airlines was named one of the top five airlines in Kyrgyzstan in 2018, China’s Xinhua news agency reported citing Kyrgyz authorities.
Kyrgyzstan’s Manas International Airport summed up the results of online voting for the Best Airline of 2018, which was held on the official website of the airport from November 1 to December 31.
More than 5,000 people chose the five best airlines from among 17 domestic and foreign carriers that operated in the airports of Kyrgyzstan, flying both on a regular basis and under charter programs.
“Airlines were evaluated according to such criteria as service on board, meals on board, service for passengers with children, service for passengers with disabilities, and a loyalty program for passengers,” the airport said.
The winners are the Kyrgyz airline Avia Traffic Company, Russia’s Aeroflot, Turkish Airlines, China Southern Airlines, and Air Manas.
“China Southern Airlines will continue to offer the best quality service and to make a greater contribution to the Belt and Road Initiative and to the friendly relationship between the peoples of China and Kyrgyzstan,” Mu Xiuhong, general manager of China Southern Airlines Bishkek office, told Xinhua.
In other news, the President of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbai Jeenbekov has signed the Law on Amendments to the Air Code of the Kyrgyz Republic, 24.kg news agency reported on January 15 with reference to the website of the Kyrgyz Parliament.
The new amendments allow the fifth degree of freedom of the air in the country — the right of foreign aircraft to unload or take on board in the territory of Kyrgyzstan passengers, baggage, cargo, mail, traveling to the territory of their own or another foreign state, or transport them to the territory of Kyrgyzstan from the territory of their own or another state.
The Parliament deputies initially proposed to introduce the open skies policy in Kyrgyzstan, but, as a result, the Ministry of Transport and Roads submitted the amendments to the Air Code to the Parliament. The fifth freedom opens Kyrgyzstan’s market for international airlines. Its key principle is not only the granting of rights to transit flights, but also non-interference of the government in pricing, formation of routes, and the absence of restrictions on the types of aircraft and their capacities.
