The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently completed an assessment visit to Kazakhstan, a significant step toward establishing direct flights between the two countries. Conducted from September 21 to 25, the inspection focused on Kazakhstan’s aviation safety oversight and regulatory compliance withICAO standards.
During the visit, US experts met with Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Transport, Talgat Lastayev, examining the country’s aviation legislation and oversight capabilities. They also visited Air Astana, Kazakhstan’s flagship airline, to verify regulatory data related to its application for US flight authorization. The preliminary findings praised Kazakhstan's progress, particularly in flight safety oversight and political commitment.
The assessment’s outcome will determine whether Kazakhstan is granted Category 1 status by the FAA, a necessary condition for launching direct flights to the US. Final decisions hinge on addressing any identified corrective measures, and even if granted, airlines will need to fulfill additional US regulatory requirements before services commence. This development represents an important milestone but does not mean immediate flight schedules will be published.
