EU Removes Kyrgyz Carriers From Safety Blacklist After 20 Years

The European Commission has taken Kyrgyzstan-certified airlines off the EU Air Safety List, ending a ban that had been in place since 2006. The delisting — part of the Commission’s 48th revision of the roster — removes the principal regulatory obstacle preventing Kyrgyz carriers from scheduling flights into EU airspace. That said, carriers will still need suitable aircraft, formal approval under EU operating rules and practical safety verifications before regular services can begin.

The move follows a year of technical scrutiny by EU experts and steps by Kyrgyz authorities to rewrite aviation rules and strengthen oversight. Inspectors visited Bishkek late last March to test the new legal framework in practice and to review airline recertifications and supervision. The Commission’s implementing act acknowledged “important progress” in putting the revised air code into effect, while flagging remaining gaps in recurrent training, document control and some specialized maintenance inspections.

The original decision to list Kyrgyz-certified carriers dates back to a European mission in September 2006, which concluded the country’s civil aviation authority lacked the capacity to enforce global safety standards and that many airlines held Kyrgyz operator certificates despite being based elsewhere. Over the past two decades the list has evolved; after this update some 154 carriers worldwide still remain banned, and the Commission continues to identify 16 countries whose national oversight it regards as insufficient.

Kyrgyzstan’s own tightening of its aviation sector was sharp and rapid. Between December and February, the authority re-evaluated every certified operator, shrinking the number of active air operator certificates from 21 to 8 — a cut of about two-thirds. Officials told EU reviewers they had closed 19 out of 23 observations from the March assessment and addressed 7 out of 12 formal recommendations, with the rest said to be nearing completion.

The delisting has renewed talk of direct European routes. Airports of Kyrgyzstan’s chairman, Manasbek Samidinov, said the authority plans Germany as the first destination and has ordered two Airbus A321s, with deliveries expected in March 2027; he indicated flights would follow once the machines arrive and the airline secures EU operating clearance. Aviation analysts caution the paperwork and practical checks can take additional months, and say EU member states are likely to step up ramp inspections of Kyrgyz carriers. The Commission will continue routine monitoring and has the authority to reimpose restrictions if fresh safety concerns emerge.