The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has completed an assessment visit to Kazakhstan as part of preparations for direct flights between the two countries, DKNews.kz reports. Preliminary findings were presented on September 25, 2026, according to the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan, with a decision on the country’s Category 1 status still pending.
What the FAA assessed
The visit took place from September 21 to 25 under the FAA’s International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) programme. It began with a meeting between the US experts and Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Transport, Talgat Lastayev.
The team examined aviation legislation, implementing regulations and the country’s ability to oversee flight safety. The assessment sought to determine whether Kazakhstan’s aviation authorities meet the applicable standards and recommended practices of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Its focus was the national safety oversight system: how effectively the authorities ensure that aviation safety requirements are met.
Why the team visited Air Astana
On September 24, FAA experts visited Air Astana in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana. The airline has applied to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) for economic authority to operate flights to the United States.
The Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan previously explained that the technical visit was intended to verify information supplied by the regulator during the IASA process. It was not an inspection of Air Astana as an air operator certificate holder.
Kazakhstan’s aviation regulator described the visit as a positive experience that benefited all participating organisations.
What the preliminary findings showed
The FAA team presented its initial findings at a closing oral briefing on September 25. According to the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan, the US experts acknowledged the substantial work undertaken by the country’s aviation authorities.
The regulator said the experts highlighted good results in several areas, citing progress in flight safety oversight and strong political commitment to that work.
What still needs to happen before flights can begin
The FAA will next send formal notification to Kazakhstan’s aviation authorities. Final consultations are then expected to address corrective measures, after which the FAA will decide whether to grant the country Category 1 status.
Category 1 means the FAA has determined that a country’s civil aviation safety oversight system meets the applicable ICAO standards. For Kazakhstan, obtaining that status would establish the regulatory basis for its airlines to complete the remaining procedures required to launch direct services to the United States.
For travellers, the end of the assessment visit does not yet mean flights will appear in airline schedules. Even with Category 1 status, carriers must meet other US regulatory requirements and obtain the necessary authorisations before services can begin.
DKNews.kz previously explained how the FAA assessment affects plans for direct flights between Kazakhstan and the United States.
