OREANDA-NEWS.  April 23, 2014. Air Astana is now free to increase frequencies on existing European routes and also to plan for new  destinations following today's lifting of restrictions previously imposed by the European Union.

According to the EU’s Air Safety Committee, Air Astana has proved that it has safety systems and procedures fully consistent with international standards and is therefore released from the frequency restrictions imposed upon it by the ASC in July 2009, following the failure of the Kazakhstan Civil Aviation Committee to pass an  ICAO audit in April of that year.

Peter Foster, Air Astana president stated , “We are delighted bythe EU Air Safety Committee’s decision, which reflects the enormous amount of  hard work that Air Astana staff have put into ensuring that flights are operated safely and in accordance with best international practices. The airline can now plan for more flights to Europe, with Paris and Prague both new destination priorities for launch in late 2014 / early 2015. We also thank the Ministry of Transport for their help in enabling this to happen”.

Air Astana currently operates services from Almaty and Astana to London 3 times a week, Astana to Frankfurt daily, and Atyrau to Amsterdam 6 times per week.