Kazakhstan has achieved a significant milestone in aviation safety by ranking among the top 20 countries globally, according to officials presenting at the ICAO Global Implementation Support Symposium 2026 in Marrakech, Morocco. The country’s safety compliance indicator has climbed to 95.7%, reflecting substantial improvements in recent years, with security levels rising from 62% to 95.7%, and flight safety increasing from 47% in 2009 to 82% in 2025.
This progress coincides with a sharp increase in passenger traffic, which grew by 80% in 2025 relative to pre-pandemic levels. ICAO officials have praised Kazakhstan’s evolving role in the international aviation arena, noting its transition from a recipient of support to a model of strategy and partnership sharing its expertise with others.
Future Plans and International Engagements
Kazakhstan is planning to develop an independent transport accident investigation body and establish a modern aviation training center in Astana. Infrastructure modernization efforts are also ongoing. Furthermore, the country will host the ICAO Security Week 2026 in October, marking its first large-scale ICAO event in Kazakhstan.
During the symposium, Kazakh representatives held meetings with ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar and officials from Canada, France, Singapore, India, and Morocco, reaffirming mutual interests in expanding cooperation, sharing best practices, and developing joint initiatives within ICAO.
Saltanat Tompiyeva’s exclusive interview with The Astana Times offers insights into Kazakhstan’s rapid rise in the international aviation landscape and its strategic plans for continued growth and cooperation.
