Kairbek Uskenbayev, Kazakhstan's Minister of Industry and Infrastructure Development, met with a delegation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia led by Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq bin Fawzan bin Muhammad Al-Rabia.

During the meeting, the Parties discussed increasing air traffic between the two countries and expanding flight geography.According to Kairbek Uskenbayev, cooperation in the aviation industry is growing between Kazakhstan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Direct charter flights for pilgrims are currently operated on the basis of an intergovernmental agreement, as a result of the joint efforts of the two states' aviation authorities.

"Because of the collaborative efforts of our countries' aviation authorities, SCAT and Fly Nas airlines have begun performing direct charter flights 1-2 times per week all year. This year, a quota of 4,000 places was allocated and used for pilgrims from Kazakhstan " according to the Head of the MIID.

At the same time, a number of Kazakhstani airlines intend to organise regular passenger transportation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia beginning in early 2023. On A320 aircraft, "Air Astana" on the Almaty-Medina route with a frequency of two flights per week and "Fly Arystan" on the Aktau-Medina route with a frequency of two flights per week.

"On September 29 this year, within the framework of the 41st session of the Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization ICAO in Montreal (Canada), the aviation authorities of Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia will sign a Memorandum of Understanding, which will grant designated airlines from both sides the right to increase the permitted number of passenger flights," said Kairbek Uskenbayev.

The parties also agreed to form a joint Working Group on increasing flights, which will be led by the heads of both countries' aviation authorities.

The parties agreed that the establishment of direct flights between the countries will contribute significantly to the strengthening of relations.