New International Airports Planned for Tashkent, Bukhara and Urgench in Uzbekistan from 2026
Uzbekistan is set to begin construction of new international airports in Tashkent, Bukhara and Urgench starting in 2026, according to the national fiscal strategy published by the Ministry of Economy and Finance for the period 2026 to 2028.
The government plans to launch all three airport projects next year, aiming to significantly expand aviation infrastructure across key cities.
In addition to expanding airport capacity, the authorities intend to increase domestic air traffic by at least 50% and bring in no fewer than six international airlines to foster greater competition in the aviation market.
The new Bukhara airport project, estimated at $226 mln, will be delivered through a public-private partnership. The plan was presented to the president by Transport Minister Ilkhom Makhkamov in May 2024. Uzbekistan Airports anticipates completion by the end of 2026.
Meanwhile, Urgench International Airport was transferred to the management of South Korea’s Incheon International Airport Corporation in April 2024, following a successful tender. The public-private partnership is valued at $222 mln, with the private partner expected to invest $115 mln in modernisation and oversee operations until 2047.
On August 1, the president approved plans for a new international airport to serve Tashkent. In its first phase, the facility will have capacity for up to 20 mln passengers per year, accommodate 169 aircraft simultaneously and support more than 40 take-offs and landings per hour. According to Uzbekistan Airports chairman Javlonbek Umarkhodjaev, the airport will be fully digital and built using cutting-edge technology.
