Kazakhstan to host first ICAO Aviation Security Week in 2026

Astana will host ICAO Aviation Security Week for the first time in October 2026, bringing aviation regulators, industry leaders and security specialists to Kazakhstan’s capital.

The event, scheduled for Oct. 20-22, will be supported by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport and carry the theme “Safe Skies in a Complex World: Enhancing Aviation Security for All.” The Civil Aviation Committee said ICAO Council President Toshiyuki Onuma, Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar and senior representatives from foreign states and international organizations are expected to attend.

The forum will focus on risk management, new technologies, workforce development and information-sharing. Topics will include threats linked to artificial intelligence, cyberattacks, unmanned aircraft, critical infrastructure and geopolitical instability. Discussions will take place under ICAO frameworks including the Global Aviation Security Plan and the Universal Security Audit Program’s continuous monitoring system.

Kazakhstan reports 95.7% compliance with international aviation security standards, placing it among the world’s top 20 countries and making it a regional leader in Central Asia. International assessments also put the effectiveness of its aviation safety oversight at 82%.

Civil Aviation Committee Chair Saltanat Tompiyeva said trust in safety, regulation and predictable rules forms the basis of a sustainable aviation hub. The Astana meeting will also support preparations for the Third High-Level Conference on Aviation Security in 2027, while advancing Kazakhstan’s ambition to play a larger role in international aviation security discussions.

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The long-term sustainability of a hub depends on trust in the system: trust in safety, regulation and predictable rules.