ICAO Security Week 2026 to be held in Astana on October 20-22

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Astana will host the ICAO Security Week 2026 from October 20 to 22, marking the first time the global aviation security forum is held in Kazakhstan. The event, supported by Kazakhstan's Ministry of Transport, will bring together aviation authorities, industry representatives, and international organizations at the Palace of Independence. The forum will focus on cyber threats, artificial intelligence, and risks to civil aviation in conflict zones.
Key Facts
- ICAO Security Week 2026 will take place in Astana from October 20 to 22, 2026, at the Palace of Independence.
- Kazakhstan's compliance with ICAO international aviation security standards reached 95.7%, compared to the global average of 72.01% and the European average of 87.92%.
- ICAO Council President Toshiyuki Onuma and ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar are expected to attend the forum.
- The forum's theme is 'Safe Skies in a Complex World: Enhancing Aviation Security for All'.
- Kazakhstan ranks among the top 20 countries worldwide for aviation security compliance and leads the Central Asian region.
Forum Agenda
The ICAO Security Week 2026 program includes symposium sessions, panel discussions, and an exhibition. Discussions will address protection of critical aviation infrastructure, resilience to cyber incidents, use of new technologies, and threat assessment mechanisms. A dedicated block will focus on flights over conflict zones, with ICAO emphasizing the need to improve information exchange and practical risk assessment approaches. The forum will also examine rapid changes in the security environment facing civil aviation, including digital technologies, artificial intelligence, cyber threats, unmanned aerial vehicles, and consequences of armed conflicts and geopolitical instability.
Kazakhstan's Aviation Security Record
Kazakhstan achieved a 95.7% compliance rate with ICAO international standards following a comprehensive audit, the highest in the region. The global average compliance rate is 72.01%, while the European average is 87.92%. This result places Kazakhstan among the top 20 countries worldwide for aviation security compliance and makes it the current leader in Central Asia. Hosting the global forum allows Kazakhstan to showcase not only its audit results but also its own platform for discussing new standards and threats.