Number of aircraft passing through Kazakh airspace up threefold in last 24 hours

By Meiramgul Kussainova

NUR SULTAN (AA) - The number of aircraft passing through the airspace of the Central Asian nation of Kazakhstan rose threefold over the last 24 hours, partially due to the Russia-Ukraine war, authorities said Monday.

In a statement, the Kazakh Civil Aviation Committee said that due to the sudden increase in transit flights in the states of the western part of the country, measures have been taken to increase the capacity of the air traffic transit system.

Over the last 24 hours, the number of aircraft passing through Kazakh airspace topped 450, the statement said.

The increase was caused by how some aircraft coming from Europe were diverted to Kazakhstan from the Black Sea region, said the Kazakh Industry and Infrastructure Development Ministry, referring to aircraft avoiding Black Sea airspace due to the war in Ukraine, which borders the sea.

Flights from the West to China and Southeast Asia being carried out via the Southern European corridor could mean additional monthly revenues for Kazakhstan of $1.5 million per month, it added.

In addition, Russian aircraft started flying over Kazakhstan when European countries closed their airspace to Russia.

Since Russia's war on Ukraine began last Thursday, it has been met by an outcry from the international community, with the EU, UK, and US implementing a range of economic sanctions against Russia.

Russia was further isolated after its planes were barred from flying in European and Canadian airspace, and a number of its banks were kicked out of the SWIFT international banking system.

*Writing by Merve Berker in Ankara