At a meeting with journalists, Altynbek Mambetov, head of infrastructure and regional development of the OJSC "International Airport 'Manas'", announced a significant achievement for Kyrgyz aviation — the exit from the European Union's "black list." Additionally, he announced the upcoming third category for the country's main airport.
“We have done serious work, and today there are 11 airports operating in Kyrgyzstan. The reconstruction of the runway, which began in March 2025, has been completed; now we just need to install the lighting equipment,” Mambetov emphasized.
He also noted that an important step towards improving the situation is the expansion of areas and modernization of the main air harbor. As part of these changes, equipment will be updated, as well as infrastructure improvements for people with disabilities.
In the near future, the 'Manas' airport is expected to receive III category status.
Reference 24.kg
A III category airport signifies a certain volume of passenger traffic (from 4 to 7 million) or equipment necessary for landings in poor visibility conditions. This may indicate a medium-sized airport or its ability to handle flights under limited visibility.
As a reminder, a final audit by the commission is expected in December, and an important meeting is planned in Europe in mid-2026, where a decision will be made regarding the exit of Kyrgyz aviation from the "black list."
