Manasbek Samidinov, chairman of the board of Kyrgyz Airports, told Reporter.kg in an exclusive interview that the company is in talks with two European airlines about launching flights from Bishkek. One is Lufthansa; the other is considering a Bishkek–Milan charter route.
Samidinov said opening a route requires agreement with the carrier, an available aircraft, slot allocation, and a security audit — a process that is inherently slow.
Direct links to Europe are being discussed following Kyrgyzstan's removal from the EU's aviation "blacklist" in June 2026. Samidinov previously said launching flights to Germany depends on delivery of two Airbus aircraft, contracted in March 2026; cabin configuration (colors, fabrics, ethnic motifs) is currently being finalized, with delivery not expected before 2027.
Separately, Samidinov announced that Karakol Airport will host Kyrgyzstan's first-ever business aviation forum on 22 September, featuring business jet manufacturers, two to three aircraft on display, and potential purchase contracts.
Status as of 07.09.2026: this is a negotiation, not a confirmed schedule. No launch date, frequency, or aircraft type has been announced.