Kazakhstan's airlines could launch new flights to Budapest, Riga, Vienna and Munich

ASTANA. Oct 15 (Interfax) - The aviation authorities of Kazakhstan and the European Union are working towards increasing the number of air services between the republic and the European countries in the medium term, Kazakhstan's Civil Aviation Committee (CAC) said in a Tuesday press release.

"We continue working towards expanding air services between the parties. In the medium term, Kazakhstan's airlines plan to open flights to the cities of Budapest, Riga, Vienna and Munich," the press release says.

During a meeting of the Council for Cooperation between the European Union and Kazakhstan that was held in Luxemburg, the parties initialed a new revision of an agreement between the governments of Kazakhstan and European Union relating to certain aspects of air transportation.

"This is a final step of the preparation for the signing of this agreement, which will serve as a legal framework for all countries of the European Union willing to launch direct flights to Kazakhstan," the press release says.

Today, 34 flights a week link Kazakhstan and five countries of the European Union: Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and the Czech Republic. Greece was added to this list last summer. These flights are operated by two airlines from Kazakhstan and by three air carriers from the European Union.