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ICAO to Develop Master Plan for Kazakhstan’s Civil Aviation

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) have signed an agreement to develop a strategic Master Plan for the Development of Kazakhstan’s Civil Aviation through 2050. The plan will outline a comprehensive strategy for the country’s civil aviation sector, covering the development of airports, air navigation systems, and airlines. It will also focus on improving flight safety, aviation security, accessibility, and the liberalization of air transport. Kazakhstan is the first country in Central Asia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to establish a strategic partnership with ICAO for the sustainable development and modernization of its civil aviation sector. The initiative aligns with national objectives to enhance Kazakhstan’s role as a regional transit and transport hub. According to the Ministry of Transport, domestic airlines carried 14.3 million passengers in 2024, a 9% increase from 2023. Passenger traffic at Kazakhstan’s airports also grew by 14%, reaching 29.7 million people. Kazakhstan currently operates 582 flights per week to 31 countries, including Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Georgia, Belarus, Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, South Korea, China, India, and several European nations such as Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands. Additional destinations include countries in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, South Asia, Turkey, and the Maldives.

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Uzbekistan Approves Regular Flights from Malaysia, South Korea, and Egypt

Uzbekistan has approved regular flights for airlines from Malaysia, South Korea, and Egypt, the Civil Aviation Agency under the Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan announced. Under an intergovernmental air services agreement between Uzbekistan and Malaysia, AirAsia X Berhad received approval on February 3, 2025, to operate regular flights between Kuala Lumpur and Tashkent. On the same day, South Korea’s T’way Air was also granted permission to launch regular flights on the Seoul-Tashkent-Seoul route under the Uzbekistan-South Korea air services agreement. Both AirAsia X Berhad and T’way Air will operate these flights using Airbus A330 aircraft. On February 4, Egypt’s Red Sea Airlines received approval to operate regular flights between Sharm el-Sheikh and Tashkent. This decision follows the Uzbekistan-Egypt air services agreement, and the airline will use Boeing 737 aircraft for these flights. Previously, The Times of Central Asia reported that Uzbekistan Airways altered its flight routes to Europe starting in January, bypassing Russian and Belarusian airspace. The airline’s press service stated that the decision was based on recommendations from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and was not related to the recent Azerbaijan Airlines crash.

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Uzbekistan Airways Reroutes Flights to Europe, Avoiding Russia and Belarus

Uzbekistan Airways has altered its flight routes to Europe, bypassing Russian and Belarusian airspace. The airline’s chairman, Shukhrat Khudoykulov, announced the decision at a press conference on January 28, according to local media reports. Flights are now taking a more southern route through Azerbaijan and Turkey. The change took effect on January 20, 2025. Reason for the Rerouting The airline’s press service told Kun.uz that the decision was made based on a recommendation from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and was not related to the recent Azerbaijan Airlines crash. “This is a recommendation from the European Aviation Safety Agency since we also serve European passengers,” the airline’s statement said. The change comes in the wake of the Azerbaijan Airlines crash on December 25, 2024. The aircraft, which was flying from Baku to the Russian city of Grozny, crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan. Of the 67 people on board, 38 died, while 29 survived. Initial reports suggested that a Russian air defense system may have mistakenly shot down the plane during a Ukrainian drone attack on Grozny. A missile reportedly exploded near the aircraft, damaging its fuselage. Kazakhstan, which initially led the investigation, has transferred the case to Brazil’s aviation safety agency (CENIPA). The findings have been sent back to Kazakhstan and are expected to be released soon. Impact on Flight Times and Costs In response to Repost.uz, Uzbekistan Airways clarified that the change was made as a precautionary measure and also to helps optimize flight routes. The rerouting has increased travel distances. For example, the Tashkent-Munich flight, which previously covered 4,849 kilometers when flying through Russia, now spans 5,156 kilometers. This adds 30 to 40 minutes to flight times and raises operational costs for the airline.

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Canadian-Manufactured Aircraft Arrives in Kyrgyzstan to Perform Domestic Flights

The first Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 aircraft, purchased by Kyrgyzstan’s Manas International Airport Open Joint Stock Company for its Asman Airlines, has arrived in Bishkek. The airplane, made by Canadian manufacturer De Havilland Aircraft, is a short-haul plane capable of carrying up to 80 passengers and transporting them over a distance of up to 2,000 kilometers. Manas International Airport, which runs all airports in the country, is purchasing two Bombardier Dash 8 Q-400 aircraft for the local Asman Airlines at its own expense. Another Q-400 aircraft will arrive later. Kyrgyzstan is experiencing growth in passenger traffic on both domestic and international flights. In 2023, the total passenger traffic amounted to 5.609 million passengers, an increase from 3.98 million, or 41%, in 2021. In addition, the regional airports in Karakol, Kazarman, Kerben, Talas, and Naryn have been reconstructed at the expense of Manas International Airport, allowing the launch of new domestic routes. A new international airport in the southern Jalal-Abad region is under consideration.