AKIPRESS.COM - The European Commission has lifted all restrictions on flights to EU countries from Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Transport reports.

This decision was made at the meeting of the Committee on Flight Safety of the European Commission with the participation of aviation authorities from 27 countries. The delegation of aviation authorities of Kazakhstan provided information about measures taken to eliminate deficiencies.

The European Commission positively assessed the measures. Experts noted significant improvements in the certification, control and supervision system in flight operations, training and licensing of aviation personnel.

"According to the decision of the committee meeting, adopted by the 27 EU member states, given the significant progress in ensuring flight safety, all restrictions on flights to the European Union countries were lifted by Kazakhstan and Kazakhstani carriers," the statement says.

Kazakh air carriers were blacklisted by the European Union in 2009 for the first time. Then the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) registered a low implementation rate of ICAO standards (47%). The European Commission banned flights of all Kazakh airlines, except Air Astana, to European countries. Air Astana was limited in expanding its flight geography and aircraft fleet.

The European Commission lifted restrictions on flights of Kazakh airlines to EU countries in 2018. The Minister of Investment and Development of Kazakhstan, Zhenis Kasymbek, said that experts noted progress in terms of flight safety.

But after the Bek Air plane crash in 2019, the European Commission again questioned the ability of Kazakhstan's aviation authorities to provide effective control of flight safety in the country. The level of compliance with ICAO flight safety standards in Kazakhstan was 82% in 2023, the Kursiv says.