Kyrgyzstan is removed from the European Union's aviation blacklist

The Kyrgyz presidency announced Monday evening the removal of the country's airlines from the European Union's blacklist. This decision ends nearly two decades of a flight ban in European airspace. Kyrgyzstan was among the few countries in the world whose airlines were all denied access to European airspace for security reasons. President Sadyr Zhaparov had expressed this hope during the inauguration of Karakol Airport, a few days before the official announcement.

Direct connections to Europe

This withdrawal paves the way for the establishment of direct air links between Kyrgyzstan and European capitals. The authorities of the Central Asian country see this as a major opportunity to develop tourism to this spectacular destination, renowned for its mountains and natural landscapes. The European ban had previously been a significant obstacle to the development of trade and tourism between the region and Europe.

The EU's blacklist includes airlines deemed to fail to meet international safety standards. It is regularly updated based on the progress made by the countries concerned. Kyrgyzstan had to demonstrate substantial improvements in fleet monitoring and adherence to safety protocols to be removed from the list. This development reflects the efforts undertaken by the Kyrgyz authorities to modernize their aviation sector and meet European requirements.