The European Commission will make a final decision on admitting Kyrgyz air carriers to EU airspace at a committee meeting in May of this year.
The final stage of the flight safety assessment was announced following a meeting between Kyrgyz Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliev and the Chairman of the EU Aviation Safety Committee, Peter Sorensen, Economist.kg reports.
EU representatives confirmed the country's significant progress in reforming civil aviation and bringing the industry into compliance with international requirements, according to the press service of the Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers.
The key factor in revising the restrictions was the results of an international ICAO audit, according to which the level of safety standards implementation in Kyrgyzstan reached 85.76%.
The reforms not only strengthened government oversight through the creation of a specialized agency but also significantly increased the sector's operational performance. Over the past four years, passenger traffic in the country has grown from 3.9 million to 6 million, and the number of flights has increased from 34,000 to 52,000 (a 53% increase). Along with updating the regulatory framework, the government has completed the modernization of all 11 airports in the country.
The technical upgrade of the national aircraft fleet has also entered the practical phase for the launch of long-haul flights. Kyrgyzstan has already acquired two Airbus A321 aircraft, and ten more aircraft are planned for delivery under lease by 2030.
Representatives of the European Commission noted the systemic nature of the legislative changes and expressed satisfaction with the progress of the State Civil Aviation Agency. The lifting of EU restrictions is considered a priority by the Kyrgyz government, which will ensure the entry of domestic airlines into the European market and provide new impetus to economic development.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
March 25, 2026