Qazaq Air secures safety certification as M&A deal closure approaches

Qazaq Air, a Kazakhstani airline controlled by the Samruk-Kazyna National Welfare Fund, has successfully passed the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA). The procedure covered all key company activities, including flight safety and passenger service. The recently obtained certificate will be valid until November 2026, according to the airline’s media statement. 

The audit procedures were carried out by an independent company certified by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to do so. The air carrier believes that certificate will enable the company to reinforce its position in the airline market and continue enhancing its safety standards.

In late May, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced the sale of Qazaq Air to Vietnamese investors. According to Kazakhstan’s Minister of Transport Marat Karabayev, the deal is estimated to be worth $77.4 million. Samruk-Kazyna attempted to sell the airline several times as part of the Comprehensive Privatization Plan, although all those attempts were unsuccessful.

In early October, Nurlan Zhakupov, chair of Samruk-Kazyna, announced a delay in the sale of Qazaq Air to Vietnamese Sovico Group, citing a complex geopolitical situation. Despite the setback, Zhakupov emphasized that the transaction is expected to be completed by the end of the year.