The Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan has drafted amendments to Order No. 540 of April 30, 2015, which governs the rules for the transportation of passengers, baggage, and cargo by air. The document aims to strengthen legal protections for consumers and resolve several contentious issues related to carry-on luggage and compensation payments, reports infohub.kz.
The new draft will regulate the transportation of musical instruments, including traditional instruments such as the dombra and kobyz. Passengers will have the option to carry them in the aircraft cabin as carry-on luggage, purchase a separate seat for them, or check them as registered baggage. For cabin transport, dimensional requirements are set: the instrument must be in a sturdy protective case, dimensions must not exceed 110×35×30 cm, and the maximum weight is limited to 10 kilograms.
Additionally, the document formalizes the possibility of transporting animals in the aircraft cabin (in accordance with airlines' internal regulations). To protect passengers' financial interests, the Ministry of Transport plans to set a time limit for paying compensation for flight delays: airlines must transfer the funds within ten calendar days from the date of submitting the relevant claim. The carrier will also be held financially liable for damage to unchecked baggage (carry-on luggage) if its fault is proven.
A separate section of the rules outlines the procedure for cases when an aircraft is replaced with a smaller one. In such situations, priority boarding will be given to the following categories of passengers: minors, people with disabilities, passengers with serious illnesses, pregnant women, and elderly citizens. Additionally, the legislation will enshrine targeted benefits for air travel for people with disabilities.
The draft regulatory act has been published on the "Open NPA" internet portal for public discussion until July 27. In April, the Ministry of Transport already announced planned changes to air travel rules, notably that musical instruments would be allowed in the aircraft cabin as carry-on luggage for the first time.