Samarkand Airport (SKD), the second-largest airport in Uzbekistan, achieved a new record for passenger traffic, serving over 1.38 mn passengers in 2024, CentralAsia+ Aero reports. This marks an increase of 36.6% compared to the previous record set in 2023. The growth is attributed to the effective public-private partnership model, with the airport being managed by the privately-run Air Marakanda since 2022.
Growth in international traffic and challenges in domestic operations
While the achievement is notable, the airport did not meet its initial target of reaching 2 mn passengers. The closure of Uzbekistan’s first low-cost carrier, Humo Air, alongside the slow start of Air Samarkand, the airport’s base carrier, limited the overall growth potential.
Despite these setbacks, the airport experienced a 43% increase in international passenger traffic, serving more than 1.31 mn international passengers in 2024. However, domestic passenger numbers declined by 24%, with around 71,000 passengers using the airport for domestic flights.
Expansion of routes and strong performance in regional rankings
Samarkand’s growing international appeal is reflected in its expanding route network. By the end of 2024, the airport added 8 new routes, bringing the total number of destinations to 3 domestic and 23 international routes. This is an increase from 7 domestic and 21 international destinations at the end of 2023. Among the top destinations for passengers were Moscow, Istanbul, St. Petersburg, Abu Dhabi, and Jeddah.
In the national ranking of Uzbekistan’s largest airports, Samarkand firmly holds second place, well ahead of Namangan Airport, which saw 759,800 passengers (+39% y/y). Tashkent’s capital airport remains the leader, handling 8.7 mn passengers, a 28% increase from the previous year.
Looking ahead
Although Samarkand’s growth is substantial, achieving the ambitious target of 2 mn passengers remains a challenge, dependent on the further development of the domestic market and the stabilization of carrier operations. Nonetheless, the airport’s continuous improvements and expanding international connectivity reflect the ongoing success of Uzbekistan’s evolving air transport sector.
