Kazakhstan to write off planes not meeting ICAO standards

Azerbaijan, Baku, June 13 / Trend E. Kosolapova / Kazakh Transport and Communication Ministry will take out of service all planes which do not meet International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards in November, Minister Askar Zhumagaliyev said, Novosti-Kazakhstan reported. "All the planes not meeting ICAO security standards, which are aircraft of the Soviet period, will be taken out of service since November 1, 2012," Zhumagaliyev said speaking at the plenary session of Kazakh Majilis (lower chamber of parliament) on Wednesday. According to Transport and Communication Minister, Kazakhstan has over 50 modern aircraft. Moreover, in the next eight years Kazakh airline companies will purchase up to 40 aircraft. Currently all Kazakh airlines, except Air Astana, are included in "blacklist" of the European Commission and banned to fly to Europe. According to the EC, these companies operate in conditions below the required level of security. Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az