President Zhaparov: Kyrgyzstan Nears Removal from EU Aviation Blacklist

During the opening ceremony of Karakol Airport, President Sadyr Zhaparov expressed optimism about Kyrgyzstan's imminent removal from the European Union's aviation blacklist.

"As you all know, in 2007, our aviation industry was deprived of the right to operate flights to the territory of the European Union due to non-compliance with international standards. We were blacklisted. Since then, our flights have not been able to fly directly to Europe, and our citizens are forced to travel through third countries," the president said, The Caspian Post reports, citing Kyrgyz media.

"In 2023, the Kyrgyz Republic successfully passed the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) audit on flight safety, and in 2024 - an audit on aviation security and facilitation. These successes are important evidence of our aviation industry"s compliance with international standards."

"At the beginning of 2025, specialists from the General Directorate of the European Commission for Mobility and Transport are expected to arrive to conduct an audit in Kyrgyzstan. If we successfully pass this check, our airlines will be able to open direct flights to the countries of the European Union," President Zhaparov added.