Kazakhstan Ranks Among Top 20 Nations for Aviation Safety

Kazakhstan has achieved a significant milestone in aviation safety, with its performance indicator soaring to 95.7%, placing it among the world's top twenty nations in this critical field. This achievement was highlighted during a meeting between the President of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council, Toshiyuki Onuma, and the Chairperson of Kazakhstan's Civil Aviation Committee, Saltanat Tompiyeva, on the sidelines of the ICAO Global Implementation Support Symposium (GISS 2026).

During the discussions, Mr. Onuma commended Kazakhstan's active role and substantial contributions to ICAO's work. He emphasized his commitment to understanding member states' needs for support, noting that Kazakhstan's engagement sends a very positive signal.

Regional Director of ICAO's EUR/NAT Bureau, Nicolas Rallo, praised Kazakhstan's unique trajectory. He observed that the country has evolved from receiving ICAO support to becoming a partner that now shares its knowledge and practical experience with other nations.

Chairperson Saltanat Tompiyeva detailed the country's aviation progress. The aviation safety indicator has surged from 62% to its current high of 95.7%. Furthermore, passenger traffic in 2025 grew by 80% compared to pre-pandemic levels. The flight safety performance index also showed remarkable improvement, rising from 47% in 2009 to 82% in 2025—a growth rate exceeding both the global average (69.3%) and the pan-European figure (76%).

A pivotal legal step was Kazakhstan's recent ratification of amendments to Articles 50(a) and 56 of the Chicago Convention. This move enables Kazakhstan to be nominated for election to the ICAO Council during an upcoming Extraordinary Session of the ICAO Assembly.

Ms. Tompiyeva also informed President Onuma about other key national initiatives, including establishing an independent transport accident investigation body, plans for a modern aviation training center in Astana, and implementing a large-scale program for aviation infrastructure modernization.

In conclusion of their meeting, Ms. Tompiyeva extended an invitation to Mr. Onuma to visit Kazakhstan and participate in one of its landmark international events: the ICAO Security Week Global Symposium scheduled for October 20-22 this year.