EU May Finally Open Skies to Kyrgyzstan, Says President

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has announced that Kyrgyzstan may finally be removed from the European Union’s Air Safety List after nearly two decades.

In a statement, Japarov called it a “major historic leap,” highlighting the country’s development of a modern, safe, and high-tech aviation sector, The Caspian Post reports via Turkish media.

He noted that Kyrgyzstan is investing billions of soms, acquiring new aircraft for domestic, regional, and international routes, and building new airports.

“Kyrgyzstan has reached a critical point in exiting the EU’s ‘blacklist,’ where it has remained for nearly 20 years. With God’s help, the skies of Europe will soon open to us,” Japarov said, emphasizing the benefits of potential removal, including boosting tourism, attracting investment, and improving the country’s international image.

Currently, Kyrgyz airlines have been on the EU Air Safety List since 2006 due to failure to meet international safety standards, restricting operations to, from, and within EU airspace. Japarov said removal from the list will allow the country to join a unified aviation space, opening access to millions of tourists and a vast market of new opportunities.