President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has officially launched the construction of a new international airport in Tashkent, which is expected to become the largest aviation hub in Central Asia.
The new facility will be located across the Urtachirchik and Kuyichirchik districts, covering an area of 1,300 hectares. The project is being implemented in partnership with a consortium comprising Vision Invest (Saudi Arabia), Sojitz Corporation (Japan) and Incheon International Airport Corporation (South Korea).
During the first phase, worth $2.5 bn, a passenger terminal and airfield will be built. Once completed, the airport will handle up to 20 mln passengers a year and accommodate 30 aircraft per hour.
A New Green and Technologically Advanced Hub
Designed in line with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and sustainable construction principles, the complex will feature modern navigation systems, a 46,000-square-metre duty-free area, and seamless transport connections, including motorways, a high-speed rail station and a shuttle service to the city centre.
The development will unfold in four stages, with passenger traffic projected to exceed 24 mln by 2040. Beyond serving as a major transport hub, the airport is expected to become a powerful economic driver, generating more than $27 bn in revenue and creating thousands of jobs.
In recent years, Uzbekistan has modernised seven international airports and opened new terminals in six cities. The number of airlines has grown from one to 15, while the national fleet has expanded from 26 to 105 aircraft.
President Mirziyoyev announced plans to further increase the number of aircraft to 180 and expand flight routes to 230 within five years, raising annual domestic and international flights to 200,000.
Kursiv also reports that Tashkent Airport has become the second-largest cargo hub in Central Asia after Almaty.
