From the blacklist to the main sponsor in Frankfurt - where is Kyrgyzstan's aviation going? Between October 21 and 23, the World Routes 2026 air forum took place in Frankfurt. More than 120 countries, over 230 airlines and more than 2,600 delegates gathered together. Basically, these were shows between airports and airlines; More than ten thousand business meetings were held over three days. Our country was represented by the company "Kyrgyzstan Airport" and the national carrier Asman Airlines.

From the blacklist to the main sponsor in Frankfurt - where is Kyrgyzstan's aviation going? Between October 21 and 23, the World Routes 2026 air forum took place in Frankfurt. More than 120 countries, over 230 airlines and more than 2,600 delegates gathered together. Basically, these were shows between airports and airlines; More than ten thousand business meetings were held over three days. Our country was represented by the company "Kyrgyzstan Airport" and the national carrier Asman Airlines.

Everyone knows that Kyrgyzstan was removed from the EU blacklist this year. The value of this event is not the prestige, but the access. In the past, European airlines that wanted to fly here, or we that wanted to fly there, faced security checks. Now that door is open. And Olam Routes is no longer a "go and learn" place, but a real platform for route management. The forum discussed new routes and the geographic expansion of the flight with international partners. But the main point is this. The Kyrgyz Airports Company was the main sponsor of the second day of World Routes, and Commercial Director Aman Mamayev made a separate presentation to the international aviation community on this day.

It seems that there are aviation giants like Airbus or Lufthansa, which usually sponsor such events. Why should we waste money? Then, on the very day when airline planners are at their peak concentration, the presentation of Kyrgyzstan appears on the main screen, and the name of Asman Airlines is at the top of the agenda. This sponsorship money basically buys a ticket to be seen in the first place.

Not everything is rosy, of course. Asman Airlines' fleet is still limited; The infrastructure of Manas airport is being gradually modernized. Exclusion from the EU blacklist is a necessary, but not sufficient, condition. Whether the route Frankfurt-Bishkek or Bishkek-London will indeed open will be decided during the coming year.