The civil aviation industry of Kazakhstan is an integral part of transport and communication complex of the country. Over the past few years, the dynamics of the main indicators of the industry showed stable growth. In 2019, more than 8.6 million passengers were transported, an increase of 9%. Number of passengers served at the airports of Kazakhstan reached 17.7 million people, growth - 12%. Transit passenger traffic and number of transit flights through the Kazakhstan’s territory had been annually increasing as well.
Unfortunately, the civil aviation industry has become one of the most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020 the industry’s main indicators declined by 35-40%.
Starting from 2021, after the gradual restoration of flights, we witness an increase in key indicators, compared to both 2020 and 2019. Today, domestic flights have been completely restored. The number of international flights with other countries ale also increasing with respect to the epidemiological situation in the country and the world.
Kazakhstan continues to take actions to develop airports infrastructure. In 2020 the new airport was launched in Turkestan - the sacred center of the Turkic world. Other major infrastructure projects are under construction, including the new passenger terminal of Shymkent airport, reconstruction of passenger terminal in Uralsk, runway reconstruction in Ust-Kamenogorsk airport and modernization of Urdzhar and Usharal airports.
There are 55 airlines currently operating in Kazakhstan, 7 of them are regular commercial airlines (Air Astana, Fly Arystan, SCAT, Qazaq Air, Zhezkazgan Air, Zhetysu, Yuzhnoe Nebo).
Today the level of effective implementation of ICAO flight safety standards in Kazakhstan is 74%, which is the second highest among the CIS countries. The level of compliance with ICAO aviation safety standards is 83%. These indicators are higher than the world average and close to the level of European countries.
Kazakhstan undertook unprecedented steps towards reforming the civil aviation regulatory approaches based on European model according to the 68th Step of the National Plan "100 Concrete Steps". Today, after amending national legislation, the "Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan" (AAK) started functioning from 2019. Then new model fully complies with ICAO standards and recommended practices, UK Civil Aviation Authority (UKCAA) and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
Achievements in improving the effectiveness of control and safety oversight were highly appreciated by the world aviation community.