BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 23. Airlines from
Kazakhstan and Switzerland will be allowed to operate up to 28
passenger flights per week between the two countries under a
memorandum signed by their aviation authorities, Kazakhstan’s
Ministry of Transport said.
The memorandum was signed following talks in Astana between
Kazakhstan’s Civil Aviation Committee and Swiss aviation
authorities.
The Kazakh delegation was headed by the Chaor of the Civil
Aviation Committee Saltanat Tompieva, while the Swiss side was
represented by Laurent Noel, Head of Negotiations at the Federal
Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA). Representatives of Air Astana,
SCAT, SWISS International Air Lines, Basel Airport, Kazakhstan’s
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Switzerland also
took part in the talks.
The memorandum provides designated airlines with the right to
operate up to 28 passenger flights per week. It also establishes a
legal framework for cargo flights without restrictions on
frequencies or capacity.
“Direct air connectivity between Kazakhstan and Switzerland will
create additional opportunities to strengthen tourism, trade,
economic and business ties between the two countries and increase
mutual passenger and business flows,” the ministry said.
The parties also agreed on and initialed a draft air services
agreement, which is expected to be signed at a later stage. The
agreement will update the legal framework governing air services
between Kazakhstan and Switzerland.
The Swiss side said it sees prospects for developing direct air
links between the two countries and is currently considering the
possibility of launching scheduled flights to Kazakhstan.
