Kazakhstan will write off all its remaining Soviet-made passenger jets by November 2012 in a bid to keep up with international aviation standards, Transportation Minister Askar Zhumagaliyev said on Wednesday, June 13.

“All the aircraft that do not live up to ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) safety standards - these are Soviet-era planes - will be withdrawn from service by November 2012,” Zhumagaliyev told the Kazakh parliament.

The minister said Kazakhstan had already bought over 50 modern aircraft.

“In the next eight years, we will purchase up to 40 planes, not only for Air Astana, the national air carrier, but other companies too,” he said, RIA Novosti reported.

Presently, all Kazakh airlines, except Air Astana, are banned from flying to Europe for failing to meet European safety and noise requirements.