In 2022, the civil aviation industry continued to actively work to systematically improve flight safety and achieve its primary objectives. A number of significant industry events occurred during the previous year. One of the most significant achievements is the European Commission's positive assessment of Kazakhstan's level of flight safety. At a technical meeting in October of this year, representatives of the European Commission confirmed that Kazakh airlines are not included longer threatened with inclusion on the European Commission's flight safety list (blacklist) and having any restrictions on flights to Europe.

During the 41st session of the ICAO Assembly, the Secretary General of ICAO expressed his appreciation and support for Kazakhstan's adoption of the European model of civil aviation regulation, noting that it is a cutting-edge and one of the most effective approaches in the world that fully complies with ICAO safety standards. Kazakhstan has met ICAO standards to the tune of 84%.

Kazakhstan's membership in ICAO celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. On July 2, 1992, the Supreme Council of Kazakhstan signed a Resolution "On Ratification of the Convention on International Civil Aviation."

Kazakhstan's aviators have demonstrated high performance results over the past year, which is reflected in increased passenger traffic - 8.9 million people were transported by Kazakh airlines in the first ten months of this year, 15% more than in the same period in 2021. (7.7 million people). Air Astana had 3.4 million passengers, FlyArystan had 2.6 million, Qazaq Air had 0.5 million, and SCAT had 2.4 million.

Considering the increasing demand for air transportation, Kazakhstan's aircraft fleet is expected to be replenished by 51 units by 2025. Domestic airlines' fleets were replenished with ten new boards in 2022. The SCAT airline's fleet has been replenished with 5 aircraft, FlyArystan with 3, and Air Astana with 2. By the end of the year, four more new aircraft will be in service.

Updating the fleet of domestic airlines will reduce flight delays, increase carrying capacity, improve passenger service quality, and expand the geography of Kazakh air carriers' flights. Kazakhstanis can currently fly direct to 29 countries around the world. Domestic flights are operated on 57 routes by 5 domestic airlines, with a weekly frequency of 687 flights.

This year, NEOS Airline launched new routes Almaty - Milan, Air Astana launched Almaty - Heraklion, Vietjet Air launched Almaty - Nha Trang, Jazeera Airways launched Turkestan - Kuwait, AnadoluJet launched Almaty - Ankara and Astana - Ankara, and Pegasus Airlines launched Almaty - Ankara. The Turkmenhavaellary Airline has restored flights from Almaty to Surgut, Tyumen, and Novosibirsk, as well as flights from Astana to St. Petersburg. Flights from Almaty to Ashgabat have also been restored.

It is planned to launch flights from Aktau and Shymkent to Ankara, Almaty and Shymkent to Medina, Astana to Nha Trang beginning December 25, Astana to Baku, and Shymkent to Dushanbe during the spring-summer navigation of 2023.

Simultaneously, "Air Seychelles" plans to launch flights between Kazakhstan and the Seychelles in the direction of Almaty - Mahe on December 26.

Additionally, flights from Astana, Almaty, Aktau, Turkestan, and Atyrau to Istanbul are expected to increase, as are flights from Astana and Almaty to Antalya and Almaty to Baku, Tbilisi, Phuket, and Male.

Kazakh airlines intend to launch flights from Astana and Shymkent to Karachi, as well as increase the number of flights to India on the Almaty-Delhi route, China on the Almaty-Chengdu route, and the United Kingdom on the Almaty-London route.

It should be noted that seasonal flights from Almaty to Bodrum, Batumi, Heraklion, and Podgorica will resume in 2023, as will flights from Astana to Tbilisi and Podgorica. Furthermore, flights between Astana and Bishkek, Aktau and Yerevan, Almaty, and Samarkand, and Shymkent and Kutaisi are expected to resume.

Air Asia X intends to launch flights from Kuala Lumpur to Almaty in the spring-summer navigation of 2023, while Thai Air Asia intends to launch flights from Bangkok to Almaty.

The Civil Aviation Committee is working on holding airlines accountable for violations of passenger rights during flight delays. Kazakh airlines were administratively liable ten times for violations of passenger rights during flight delays for a fine of 8,100 MCI (24,810,300 tenge).

Work to improve Kazakhstan's compliance with international civil aviation standards continued in 2022. Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan has signed Memorandums of Cooperation with several international organizations, including the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the International Airports Council (ACI), and iPADIS. These agreements are another step toward improving global cooperation and partnership with the industry, as well as strengthening domestic aviation authority.

To strengthen international cooperation, the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan signed an agreement with the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) on the provision of information services in the field of international civil aviation, an agreement on technical cooperation with the Civil Aviation Authority of Romania, and a Memorandum of Cooperation with Boeing. By the end of the year, AAK estimate to sign MoU with EASA and FAA on technical cooperation.

Cooperation with the US Transportation Security Administration is expanding as part of the work on establishing a direct flight between Kazakhstan and the United States. The second visit of TSA experts took place in August of this year to conduct a preliminary assessment of the condition of the inspection points and their compliance with American standards.

The experts gave a positive assessment of the state of the inspection points and checkpoints based on the findings of the technical visit. The aviation security service personnel's coordinated work was noted.

Kazakhstan's representative was elected Vice-Chairman of the ICAO Special Group on Aviation Security in Europe and the North Atlantic Region (ENAVSECG). The election of a representative from our country to this position will help to raise Kazakhstan's international standing and strengthen its position as a leader in aviation security in Central Asia.

A Global Symposium on Aviation Security and Facilitation (AVSEC/TRIP-2023) is planned for Kazakhstan in 2023, at the initiative of ICAO. Air Astana was named the best airline in Central Asia and the CIS for the tenth time by Skytrax. SCAT Airlines celebrated its 25th year in business. At the "World Airport Awards," Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport was named the best regional airport in Central Asia/CIS.

In addition to institutional measures, work on airport infrastructure modernization continued in 2022. This year, following the reconstruction, the airports of Urjar and Usharal were certified.

The opening of a new passenger terminal at Uralsk Airport took place. The construction of a new international terminal at Almaty Airport has begun, and work on the reconstruction of the passenger terminal at Shymkent Airport is also underway.

Dear industry employees!

The Civil Aviation Committee and the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan sincerely thank you for your innovative work, invaluable contribution, and professionalism. Your knowledge and experience, as well as your responsibility and dedication, ensure safe and comfortable air travel throughout the country and around the world.

We congratulate all civil aviation employees and veterans and wish you and your families good health, happiness, and prosperity, the fulfillment of new plans, and professional success.

Congratulations on International Civil Aviation Day!