The Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan (AAK) held a commemorative event to mark the 7th anniversary of the organization’s establishment.

The event was attended by the AAK management and staff, Timur Tlegenov, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Sarsen Zharylgassov, Acting Chairman of the Civil Aviation Committee of the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Director of the Department for Investigation of Transport Accidents and Incidents of the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nurzhan Malaev, as well as representatives of airlines, including Vladimir Sytnik, Vice President of SCAT Airlines, and Filippos Siakkas, Chief Operating Officer of Air Astana.

Over the past seven years, the AAK has evolved from establishing a new institutional model of state regulation to helping position Kazakhstan as one of the leaders in Central Asia’s aviation sector. The organization’s key priorities are ensuring flight safety and aviation security, promoting the sustainable development of the sector, and strengthening confidence in Kazakhstan’s aviation system.

“Over the past seven years, we have built a strong team that has already earned international recognition. We must use this potential to further develop Kazakhstan’s aviation sector and strengthen its position globally,” said Michael Daniel, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Management Board of the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan, congratulating his colleagues. He emphasized that behind every achievement of the organization is the high level of professionalism and responsibility of its employees.

To mark the anniversary and on the eve of Transport Workers’ Day, AAK employees were awarded the “Qurmetti Aviator” (Honoured Aviator) badge. The recipients were Zhanat Abdugalimov, Managing director for Flight Safety, Strategy, Standardization and Harmonization; Daniyar Kanlybayev, Director and Chief Aviation Inspector of the Aviation Security Department; Vsevolod Kim, Director and Chief Aviation Inspector of the Facilitation, Passenger and Cargo Services Department; Leonid Ostrovsky, Senior Aviation Inspector of the Department of aerodromes and ground handling; and Zhanar Berdekesheva, Senior Officer of the Strategic Analysis Division, Department of Strategic Analysis and Development of Civil Aviation.

Among the AAK’s key achievements over the years are the increase in Kazakhstan’s compliance with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices in aviation security to 95.7% in 2025, placing Kazakhstan among the TOP 20 countries worldwide; and achieving 82% compliance with ICAO Standards in flight safety. This is 15 percentage points above the global average and close to the level of EASA Member States (85%), while also exceeding the average for the European and North Atlantic Region (77%) and the global average (67%).

Kazakhstan also successfully completed an ICAO Validation Mission (ICVM) and became the first CIS country to achieve 100% implementation of ICAO Global Reporting Format (GRF) standards. The AAK also successfully underwent a technical assessment by experts from the European Commission and hosted experts from the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

The AAK received the prestigious international Air Transport News Corporate Award for outstanding achievements, innovation and effective management in the civil aviation sector.

In 2020, the AAK issued an aerodrome certificate to Hazret Sultan International Airport in Turkistan, the first airport constructed in Kazakhstan since independence.

In 2024, Kazakhstan was removed from the monitoring of the European Commission’s Air Safety Committee, allowing Kazakh airlines to operate flights to European Union countries without restrictions.

In 2025, an AAK representative became the first ICAO-certified aviation security auditor in the history of Kazakhstan’s aviation sector.

The Master Plan for the Development of Civil Aviation of Kazakhstan until 2050 is currently being developed. In 2026, following an ICAO decision, Astana will host a major international aviation event, ICAO Security Week (AVSEC 2026).

Also in 2026, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan signed a package of amendments to aviation legislation. For the first time in Kazakhstan, the legal status of electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL), vertiports and their control systems was formally established.

The AAK’s achievements have been accompanied by rapid growth in Kazakhstan’s civil aviation sector. Passenger traffic continues to increase, the route network is expanding, new international destinations are being launched, new industry players and airlines are entering the market, the aircraft fleet is growing, and new aerodromes are being constructed, including in Bozhan, Kenderli, Katon-Karagay, Zaysan and Arkalyk.

From 2020 through the first half of 2026, AAK aviation inspectors conducted a total of 4,565 selective and unscheduled inspections and certification surveys and issued 5,831 authorizing documents.

The AAK currently provides 22 government services, with the volume of services increasing every year. From 2020 through the first half of 2026, the Administration provided a total of 40,540 government services.

As part of efforts to establish direct air services between Kazakhstan and the United States, preparations for international assessments are ongoing. In particular, work is underway to prepare for the assessment by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and to achieve Category 1 (CAT 1) status, which would enable direct air services between Kazakhstan and the United States. Preparations are also underway for an assessment by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

The AAK will continue its work to ensure flight safety and aviation security, develop Kazakhstan’s civil aviation sector, and strengthen the country’s international position as a reliable and responsible participant in the global aviation system.