Seven more Central Asian airlines plan to undergo IOSA safety audit

Image: IATA

The number of IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA)-registered carriers in Central Asia could double next year as seven additional airlines prepare to undergo the rigorous safety assessment, according to an IATA official speaking at a regional industry conference.

However, one regional carrier has decided not to renew its existing IOSA certification.

Rizwan Siddiqui, IATA’s Country Manager for Central Asia, announced the developments at the Central Asia Aviation Summit #8, held this week in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Currently, six airlines in the region hold active IOSA registration, which evaluates all operational areas affecting flight safety. These carriers are: Air Astana, Qazaq Air (Vietjet Qazaqstan), and SCAT from Kazakhstan; Air Traffic Company from Kyrgyzstan; Somon Air from Tajikistan; and Uzbekistan Airways from Uzbekistan.

According to Siddiqui, seven additional operators are expected to join the IOSA registry. Two airlines from Kazakhstan, one from Kyrgyzstan (with two more considering the proposal), and two from Uzbekistan have already initiated preparation for the audit.

IATA expressed surprise, however, at the decision of Kyrgyz Avia Traffic not to renew its IOSA certification, which the airline first received in 2020.

Industry observers suggest the airline may be reluctant to allocate funds for the program, particularly given that its international network serves destinations exclusively in Russia. Russian carriers themselves have been unable to renew IOSA certification due to international sanctions and instead operate under domestic safety standards.

For the rest of the global aviation industry, IOSA registration serves as critical evidence of an airline’s commitment to continuously improving flight safety processes and operational readiness.

Under IATA requirements, all member airlines must undergo an IOSA audit every two years to maintain their membership status.