In 2021, the aviation industry continued to adapt to the effects of the pandemic Covid-19. This year has been fruitful with achievements.

One of the highlights was the successful completion of an independent audit of the industry by  ICAO Co-ordinated Validation Mission (ICVM). As a result of the audit, Kazakhstan's safety record increased to 84%, which is 15% higher than the global average.

According to this indicator, we are on a par with the leading countries, such as: Netherlands - 87%; Belgium - 87%; Portugal - 87%; Latvia - 86%; Denmark - 85%; Iceland - 84%; Poland - 84%; Slovenia - 82%, Cyprus - 82%.

Number of important visits to the aviation authorities were carried out, including the visit from the European Commission with the representatives of the European Aviation Safety Agency and European Union aviation authorities and experts from the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

The recommendations were given to continue work on reforming the industry. As of today there are no restrictions for Kazakh airlines to perform flights to the European Union.

Aviation experts of the USA evaluated well-coordinated work of the Ministry, the aviation regulator and the airports, and mentioned the openness of the personnel to the auditors.

As a result of the visit, it was decided to continue and expand cooperation between the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan and the U.S. Transportation Security Administration in the opening the direct flights to the United States.

Domestic traffic has been fully restored and exceeded the pre-pandemic level, new routes have been opened. As part of developing domestic tourism, socially significant flights to the tourist destinations as Turkestan, Alakol, Balkhash and Schuchinsk-Borovsk resort area are operated.

New international flights to 23 countries on 65 routes are now resumed, which inidicates 66% of the pre-pandemic period. New routes to Maldives, Qatar, Sri-Lanka and Kuwait have been opened.

This year, the Majilis Parliament approved the draft Law on Ratification of the Air Services Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the USA, whichwill establigh a legal framework for the implementation of direct scheduled flights between Kazakhstan and the USA.

Within implementation of control and oversight functions, the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan JSC performed certification of 16 airports andconducted 32 inspections. More than 2,500 state services were rendered for the issuing of certificates to aviation personnel. Moreover, 9 aviation training centres were certified and 17 inspections were conducted. The operations of two airlines were suspended: Aeroservice-Taraz Airlines LLP, B&K AERO KZ LLP, and the certificates of three airlines were revoked: JENIS AIR LLP, AZEE AIR LLP and Sunkar Air LLP.

This year has been marked with the first re-registration of Qazaq Air's aircraft from Aruba to the civil aircraft register of Kazakhstan.

Further work to improve aviation safety will be contracted with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Irish Aviation Authorities (IAA).

In 2021, Kazakhstan received an Observer status at the European Civil Aviation Conference and became the third CIS country to be admitted to EASA.

Great attention is paid to modernisation of ground-based air transport infrastructure.

As part of the State Programme for Infrastructural Development "Nurly Zhol" for 2020-2025, the reconstruction of the runway of the Ust-Kamenogorsk airport is now in progress. The project provides the runway expand by 300m and replacement of the lighting and signalling equipment to accept modern types of aircraft.

Construction of new Shymkent airport terminalcontinues with the private investments. It will allow extending the terminal area from 3.8 up to 35 thousand m2 and increasing the terminal capacity from 150 up to 2000 passengers/hour.
The West Kazakhstan Akimat, and the private investments involved, are now in the phase of reconstructing the terminal complex of the Uralsk Airport. The area of the terminal will be more than doubled, and the terminal capacity will be increased from 100 to 200-passengers/hour.

In order to ensure transport accessibility of the tourist centre of Lake Alakol, the runway and  terminal building of Urjar village are also being reconstructed. Works on reconstruction of the runway, taxiway and apron of Usharal airport have also started.

The implementation of these projects will help to improve airport ground infrastructure, safety and service standards.

Digitalisation is an important focus for the industry.

This year, Egov Mobile, a digital document service for confirmation of personal data without the use of the original ID card on domestic flights, was introduced.

The project is currently launched at the airports of Nur-Sultan, Almaty, Aktobe, Turkestan, Aktau, Atyrau, Shymkent and Taraz. It is expected that digitalization will be introduced in all airports of Kazakhstan by the end of this year.
The Committee will continue to work on restoration and opening of new international air services, modernisation of infrastructure facilities within the framework of the National Project "Strong Regions - Country Development Driver" and introduction of the latest digital technologies.

The main task for the industry in the next three years is to successfully pass the ICAO audit in 2023 with an increase in the level of compliance with the flight safety standards above 90%.