The meeting between the Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan, Adylbek Kasymaliev, and Peter Sorensen, Deputy Head of the Security Division of the European Commission and Chair of the EU Aviation Safety Committee, took place the day before. This information was disseminated by the press service of the Cabinet.
The main topic of discussion was the removal of Kyrgyz airlines from the EU aviation safety blacklist. The EU Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, Remi Duflo, was also present at the meeting.
Kasymaliev emphasized that Sorensen's visit is extremely important for Kyrgyzstan.
“We consider cooperation with the European Union as one of our priority areas and highly value the professionalism of European institutions in matters of aviation safety,” he noted.
During the conversation, it was highlighted that thanks to the initiative of President Sadyr Japarov to establish the State Agency for Civil Aviation, the situation in the industry has significantly improved. This decision has allowed for the implementation of a modern system of state regulation, strengthened control, and the application of ICAO international standards.
Kasymaliev also presented the results of the reforms. In particular, the number of passengers increased from 3.9 million in 2021 to over 6 million in 2025, and the total number of flights rose from 34,000 to 52,000, representing a growth of 53%. Additionally, the operations of all 11 airports in the country have been restored and modernized.
“We have already begun to implement plans for launching long-haul flights. Two Airbus A321 aircraft have already been acquired, and by 2030 we intend to lease another 10 aircraft,” added the head of the Cabinet, emphasizing that systemic reforms are confirmed by international audits: according to ICAO, the level of effective implementation of standards in Kyrgyzstan has reached 85.76%.
Peter Sorensen expressed satisfaction with the progress made and noted that the legislative changes and improvements to the regulatory framework are impressive. He also pointed out that the level of support for the aviation sector from the Kyrgyz government is indeed high. Sorensen also confirmed the active interaction with the Director of the Civil Aviation Agency, Daniyar Bostanov, and expressed readiness for further constructive dialogue.
The representative of the European Commission added that the current visit is an important stage in the evaluation process, and a final decision will be made at the meeting of the relevant EU committee in May 2026.
Summarizing the meeting, Kasymaliev stated that Kyrgyzstan will continue to strengthen its legislative and institutional framework in this sector.
“This issue remains an important priority for us. I am confident that a positive decision from the EU will open new horizons for the development of our aviation and economy,” concluded the Prime Minister.
