Kazakhstan to launch direct flights to U.S. with increased security requirements

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport has drafted legislative amendments to establish direct air travel with the U.S., focusing on strengthening flight safety oversight in line with U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recommendations — a crucial requirement for launching the flights, according to KazTAG.

As legislators explained, these amendments are necessary to meet requirements of the U.S. FAA, which conducted a preliminary International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) in Kazakhstan over the period from August 26 to August 30, 2024. Following the inspection, recommendations were issued to enhance flight safety oversight.

The amendments to aviation legislation include clarifying terms related to aircraft airworthiness and strengthening operational safety requirements. For example, the term «airworthiness» in the law «On the Use of Airspace of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Aviation Activity» needs to be expanded.

In January 2022, Kazakhstan’s parliament ratified an air transport agreement with the U.S., with direct flights initially scheduled to begin in 2025. In late July 2024, Zhaslan Madiyev, minister of digital development, innovation and aerospace industry, announced that the first Dreamliner aircraft, intended to operate the air service between the two countries, is expected to arrive in Kazakhstan by late 2025.