Civil Aviation - The Times Of Central Asia

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Aviation

Kazakhstan Expands Airbus Ties and Strengthens French Aviation Cooperation

Kazakhstan is strengthening its cooperation with European aerospace firms and preparing to modernize its civil aviation fleet. In Paris, during the Kazakh-French Business Council and the 16th Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation, a memorandum was signed for the delivery of Airbus A320neo aircraft. The document was signed by Talgat Lastayev, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Minister of Transport. The agreement provides for the delivery of 25 A320neo aircraft, with an option to expand the order by another 25 units. The A320neo is an upgraded version of the widely used narrow-body Airbus A320. The abbreviation “neo” (New Engine Option) refers to its modern engines, which reduce fuel consumption by 15% and operating costs by 8%. The aircraft also offers a 10% reduction in emissions and lower noise levels compared to the classic A320 series. “During the meeting between Talgat Lastayev and Airbus Vice President Charbel Youzkatli, the delivery schedule, currently set for 2031 and the possibility of acceleration were discussed. In addition,. In addition, the Deputy Minister raised the issue of establishing a joint aviation training center and expanding aircraft leasing cooperation,” the Ministry of Transport said in a statement. Additional areas of cooperation with international partners were also discussed. These included airport infrastructure upgrades with TAV Airports and expanded industrial collaboration with Alstom. The delegation also raised the restoration of direct flights between Paris and Astana and the potential launch of a new route between Shymkent and Nice. The Kazakh delegation, led by Lastayev, also met with the leadership of the French National Civil Aviation School (ENAC), including Director-General Olivier Chansou and Deputy Director General Nicolas Cazalis. Talks centered on creating a European-level regional aviation training center in Astana, which is expected to become a key piece of infrastructure for training aviation professionals across Central Asia. “The presence of such a training center in Kazakhstan will reduce the sector’s dependence on foreign training institutions and ensure the development of skilled professionals domestically. Cooperation will focus on the systematic training of local personnel and the exchange of international experience,” the Ministry stated. According to the Ministry of Transport, Kazakhstan’s aviation industry needs 500-600 new specialists each year, including pilots, engineers, air traffic controllers, and ground handling personnel. However, the country’s current training institutions do not meet the European standards set by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). ENAC is the only aviation education institution globally that meets the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), EASA, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and Airports Council International (ACI). Founded in 1946 in Toulouse, the school now partners with over 117 countries and offers more than 350 educational and professional development programs. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan is actively expanding its international air routes. Following the C5+1 working group conference on civil aviation held in August this year, new international routes were launched and flight frequencies to China and Uzbekistan increased.

Civil Aviation

Kazakhstan Boosts Air Transport Sector with New Fleet and Airport Revamps

Kazakhstan is set to double its civil aircraft fleet over the next five years, increasing the number of aircraft from 103 to 216 by 2030. According to the Ministry of Transport, in 2025 the country's fleet will add six new Airbus A320s and one Boeing 737 MAX 8. In January 2025, FlyArystan and Air Astana received new aircraft as part of this expansion. The government’s long-term plan aims to boost the number of aircraft operated by Kazakh airlines to 216 by the end of the decade. “This year, 36 new international routes have been launched, and eight foreign airlines have entered the market. There are currently 61 domestic routes with 850 flights per week,” said Deputy Minister of Transport Maksat Kaliakparov. As part of domestic connectivity efforts, 21 subsidized routes are now operating across nine regions, with approximately $12 million allocated for these services in 2025. The government’s priority is to improve air access to tourist destinations such as Usharal, Urdar, Kokshetau, and Turkestan. Airport Infrastructure Development Major investments are also being channeled into the country’s largest airports in Astana, Almaty, Shymkent, and Aktobe, all of which are being developed into multimodal transport hubs. In Astana, a $1.1 billion modernization project for Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport began in 2025. Plans include the construction of a second runway, a third passenger and cargo terminal, and a multifunctional complex known as the Aerotropolis. The new facility will feature an industrial and logistics zone, business centers, hotels, and retail space. In Almaty, the airport is undergoing modernization in line with a General Development Plan extending to 2050. The initial phase includes reconstructing the domestic terminal, building a taxiway, upgrading the runway and fueling infrastructure, and establishing a cargo apron and maintenance hangar. Future phases envision a hotel and a multi-level parking facility. During the construction phase, more than 1,800 jobs are expected to be created, with an additional 550 jobs during operations. Shymkent opened a new 40,000 square-meter terminal in December 2024, boosting its annual passenger capacity from 800,000 to 6 million. Plans are underway to construct a new 3,500-meter runway and develop a multimodal hub connecting the airport with the Ontustik Special Economic Zone. In Aktobe, a multifunctional logistics center is being implemented at the airport. As part of this effort, the fuel filling complex is being upgraded, and storage capacity will more than double, facilitating an increase in flight operations. Authorities are also considering the construction of a second runway, which would allow the existing runway to undergo major repairs without disrupting service. “In addition, the government has decided to expand the boundaries of special economic zones at the country's largest airports. This will attract investors, develop industry and logistics, and turn Kazakhstan's air hubs into growth points for the national economy,” the government said in a statement. Foreign Investment and Regional Expansion As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, the German company Skyhansa intends to construct a new cargo and passenger airport in Kazakhstan’s Zhetysu region. The project...

Civil Aviation

Kazakhstan Grounds Light Aircraft Following Two Fatal Crashes

Kazakhstan’s Civil Aviation Committee, working alongside the Aviation Administration, has temporarily suspended flights of TL-2000 and Aerostar R40F light aircraft following two fatal crashes near Astana in recent months. The suspensions are intended to allow for thorough investigations of both incidents. On June 22, 2025, a privately owned TL-2000 light aircraft crashed during a training flight near Zholaman Airfield, resulting in the deaths of both people on board. The accident occurred at approximately 11:30 a.m. A special investigation commission was established by the Ministry of Transport to determine the cause. On August 17, 2025, an Aerostar R40F (registration UP-LA229) crashed during a general aviation flight about 55 kilometers from Astana in the Akmola region. The crash resulted in the death of both the pilot and passenger. A commission was dispatched by the Ministry of Transport’s accident investigation department to the crash site, including representatives from the Transport Police and regional authorities. Transport Minister Nurlan Sauranbayev confirmed that each incident is being investigated independently, and that both aircraft models will remain grounded until the investigations conclude. The Civil Aviation Committee, in collaboration with the Aviation Administration, has suspended flights of both TL-2000 and Aerostar R40F aircraft models pending investigation results. The investigation into the June TL-2000 crash is ongoing, with final conclusions expected before the end of 2025.

Civil Aviation

Central Asia Charts New Course as Russian Aviation Falters

Sanctions against Russia may intensify if U.S. President Donald Trump escalates pressure on the Kremlin and Vladimir Putin. But even without additional measures, several sectors of Russia’s economy are already buckling under strain. Among the most vulnerable is civil aviation, now grappling with “fleet cannibalization”, a practice born of scarcity and isolation. In this context, alarmist claims from Russian aviation analysts that Central Asian airlines might soon replace Russian carriers not only on international routes but potentially within Russia itself are being reassessed. So, what is actually happening and why? Squeezing Russia Out One of the most overlooked aviation developments of 2024 was the announcement at the Central Asian Aviation Summit in Astana that regional countries were forming their own civil aviation regulatory body. As Amir Akhmetov, senior advisor to the director of the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan, put it: “In the changing geopolitical environment of the republics of Central Asia and the South Caucasus, together with like-minded countries, they are creating their own regional civil aviation organization, the Eurasian Civil Aviation Conference (EACAC).” This initiative, first proposed by Astana in 2023, includes Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, as well as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Mongolia. Although initially scheduled for 2025, the first EACAC meeting took place in Almaty in November 2024. Russian observers have taken note. The publication Versiya, which had predicted Russia’s marginalization in the Central Asian aviation market as early as 2016, commented on the development in stark terms: “It is hard not to notice that this is truly a momentous event in the field of civil aviation regulation within the EAEU member states, aimed precisely at pushing Russia out of the process… which, after the formation of the announced structure, will de facto exist and be managed under direct Anglo-American influence.” However alarmist the tone, the underlying concern is not unfounded. Russia’s aviation sector is increasingly isolated and dependent. By December 2024, it was confirmed that a new aircraft maintenance hub would be built in Aktau, one of Kazakhstan’s four major aviation centers. The project, spearheaded by Turkish Technic, YDA, and ASFAT, will serve civil and military aircraft from Kazakhstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. According to then-Minister of Transport Marat Karabayev, “The center will serve 411 civil aircraft... As a result of the project, the airport’s cargo handling capacity will increase to 200,000 tons per year, with an annual turnover of 520 billion tenge ($996.7 million).” Aviation in Central Asia: A Regional Snapshot In Kazakhstan, liberalization and competition have allowed the civil aviation sector to flourish. National carrier Air Astana operates hubs in Almaty and Astana and is widely considered among the best airlines in the post-Soviet space. Its low-cost subsidiary, FlyArystan, has grown rapidly, fueled by a strong Airbus fleet, now over 60 aircraft, with new A320 and A321 deliveries annually. Private airline SCAT flies across the former USSR and Asia, while Qazaq Air, now rebranded as Vietjet Qazaqstan, entered into a strategic partnership in 2025 with Vietnam’s Sovico Group, owner...

Civil Aviation

Wizz Air to Offer Uzbek-Language Service After Passenger Complaint

Uzbekistan’s Competition Committee has investigated a passenger complaint against Wizz Air and taken action to improve service for Uzbek travelers. As a result, the airline will now provide Uzbek-language assistance on flights to Uzbekistan. The Complaint The issue came to public attention when Rasul Kusherbayev, a former deputy and adviser to the Minister of Ecology, encountered a language barrier on a Wizz Air flight from Samarkand to Abu Dhabi. Kusherbayev, who was seated near the emergency exit, was given safety instructions in English. Since he did not understand English, he requested an explanation in Uzbek or Russian. However, instead of accommodating his request, a crew member asked him to leave the plane. Kusherbayev refused, and upon arrival in Abu Dhabi, the airline contacted local police. Authorities advised both sides to resolve the matter amicably. Wizz Air staff later informed Kusherbayev that he was banned from using the airline’s services in the future. The incident led Kusherbayev to publicly criticize Wizz Air for failing to provide information in Uzbekistan’s state language. Government Response and Airline Commitment Following the complaint, Uzbekistan’s Competition Committee launched an investigation. The committee emphasized that all passengers must clearly understand safety instructions and that providing them exclusively in a foreign language could create risks and misunderstandings. As a result of the probe, the committee took action against the airline employees involved. Wizz Air also introduced new training programs for its crew on flight safety, etiquette, and passenger rights. The airline has committed to ensuring that by 2025, flight attendants and service personnel on Uzbekistan-bound flights will be able to communicate in Uzbek.

Aktau Plane Crash

Russian Insurer Pays Compensation for AZAL Crash Near Aktau

The Russian insurance company AlfaStrakhovanie has completed payments under aviation hull insurance for the Embraer 190 aircraft operated by AZAL Airlines that crashed near the Kazakhstani city of Aktau. Additionally, compensation payments to passengers have begun, according to Ilya Kabachnyk, Deputy General Director for Aviation and Space Insurance at the company. "Full payment for the aircraft was made in February," Kabachnyk stated, noting that a significant portion of the risk was reinsured by the Russian National Reinsurance Company (RNPC). While the exact amount of compensation has not been disclosed, industry experts estimate it to be between $25 million and $30 million. Compensation payments to passengers began in January and are ongoing. These payments are being made in accordance with the Montreal Convention of 1999 and Russia’s Compulsory Insurance of Civil Liability of Carriers (OSGOP) law, which provides for compensation of up to 2 million RUB (approximately $22,000) for injury or loss of life. Regarding potential claims for damage to third parties, Kabachnyk said no such claims have been received so far. "If they arise, we will work with the airline accordingly," he added. Investigation and Cause of the Crash The crash occurred on December 25, 2024, during an AZAL flight from Baku to Grozny. There were 67 people on board, 38 of whom died, the majority of them Azerbaijani citizens. According to Reuters, citing an unnamed source, the aircraft was shot down by a Russian Pantsir-S missile. Azerbaijani authorities have supported this claim, stating that they have recovered fragments of the missile. In early February, Kazakhstan published a preliminary report on the crash, which described external damage to the aircraft.