An-24 and Yak-40 planes will be banned in Kazakhstan starting from November

An-24 and Yak-40 planes will be banned in Kazakhstan starting from November, Tengrinews.kz reports citing chairman of the Civil Aviation Commission of Kazakhstan Ministry of Transport and Communications Beken Seidakhmetov as saying at the international forum called Safe and Efficient Air Transport – Key Factor for Sustainable Growth of Central Asia and Caucasus in Astana. "Starting from November 1, 2012, Kazakhstan bans the use of the airplanes not complying with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) standards. Thus, over 20 An-24 and Yak-40 planes will be decommissioned. To replace the written off airplanes, Kazakhstan air companies are purchasing Western-made aircrafts. 8 airplanes were bought in 2011; the plan is to procure another 17 aircrafts in 2012, 2013. They will be Airbus, Boeing and Embraer planes mainly," Seidakhmetov said. Besides, the official pointed at the positive dynamics of growth of passenger and freight transportation, flights regularity, transit traffic and upgrade of the aircrafts pool. "In 2011 Kazakhstan air companies carried 4.1 million people, which is 17 percent more than in 2010. The growth of passenger traffic made 15 percent in the first 6 months of 2012. Kazakhstan passenger and freight air companies own 112 aircrafts, including 60 Western-made and 52 Soviet-made planes," he said.