Kazakhstan set for FAA safety assessment as it eyes direct US flights

A team of auditors from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will arrive in Kazakhstan on September 19 to conduct an assessment as part of preparations for launching direct air services between Kazakhstan and the United States.

Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Transport Talgat Lastayev announced this at the Kazakhstan Travel Forum “SAYAKHAT 2026” in Astana, according to local media.

“Tomorrow we will have a substantial team of auditors from the Federal Aviation Administration of the United States arriving to assess Kazakhstan for authorisation of flights to the United States,” Lastayev said.

He noted that Kazakhstan has been working on the issue for several years.

“The work here is also underway, very extensive and very painstaking, and we expect that in the foreseeable future, I think, we will have direct flights,” the vice minister said.

The assessment concerns the International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program conducted by the FAA. Under the program, the US regulator evaluates whether a country’s civil aviation authority is capable of ensuring compliance with international aviation safety standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

Kazakhstan has been continuing preparations for the launch of direct flights to the United States. In August 2026, the Civil Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan and the US Embassy discussed further cooperation in civil aviation and preparations for the IASA assessment.

The Civil Aviation Administration previously said Kazakhstan aims to obtain the necessary FAA status to enable direct flights to the United States. In May 2026, the agency said FAA experts were expected to be invited to Kazakhstan in September to conduct the assessment.

However, the start of regular flights will depend not only on the outcome of the assessment but also on obtaining the necessary authorizations and having suitable aircraft available.

In September 2026, Air Astana said it planned to launch direct flights to the United States in 2027, although no exact date for the first flight had been announced.

By Tamilla Hasanova