Uzbekistan Airports Joint Stock Company (JSC) and Changi Airports International (CAI) have inked an agreement to jointly develop Islam Karimov Tashkent International Airport.
Tashkent is the largest international airport of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the third busiest airport by passenger traffic in Central Asia in 2019.
The agreement was exchanged between Rano Juraeva, Chairman of the Board of Uzbekistan Airports JSC, and Eugene Gan, Chief Executive Officer of CAI, at the Uzbekistan Overseas Market Workshop organised by the Singapore Business Federation in Tashkent on 24 May 2023.
The exchange was witnessed by Uzbekistan Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev and Singapore President Halimah Yacob, who was in Uzbekistan for a state visit.
Uzbekistan, strategically located at the heart of Central Asia and the crossroads of Europe and Asia, has a bourgeoning tourism industry buoyed by its rich cultural heritage and natural beauty.
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Importance of Tashkent Airport
Tashkent Airport is an important airport. It is the largest international airport in Uzbekistan and the 3rd busiest airport in Central Asia. It is located 12 km (7.5 mi) from the center of Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.
The airport has two terminals: Terminal 2 receives international flights, Terminal 3 is for domestic traffic.
Tashkent Airport is a major hub for Uzbekistan Airways, the national airline of Uzbekistan. The airport also serves as a transit hub for flights between Europe and Asia. In 2019, the airport handled over 2.5 million passengers.
Tashkent Airport is an important economic asset for Uzbekistan. The airport generates jobs and revenue for the country. It also helps to promote tourism in Uzbekistan. Located strategically, it is also close to major trade routes.
As well as being served by a number of major airlines, the airport is also a major hub for Uzbekistan Airways.
Restoration of passenger traffic
Passenger traffic at Tashkent Airport, the country’s main airport, exceeded pre-Covid levels in 2022 to reach 5.0 million passengers.
With robust traffic growth expected from its budding tourism industry, Uzbekistan Airports JSC plans to optimise the operations of the current Tashkent Airport as well as develop a new airport that would help advance its trade and tourism potential.
Under the agreement, CAI will provide consultancy and technical services to Uzbekistan Airports JSC in the management and operation of the existing Tashkent Airport.
“Tashkent has a huge potential as an international hub connecting Europe and Asia. The existing airport has many limitations – with its location in the center of the city, there is simply nowhere to expand it.”
“At the same time, passenger traffic is fast increasing with the airport reaching its capacity and not having enough aircraft parking lots during peak periods. Therefore, we are working on the issue of building a new airport,” said Rano Juraeva, Chairman of the Board of Uzbekistan Airports JSC.
Eugene Gan, Chief Executive Officer of CAI, said: “Changi Airports International is pleased to collaborate with Uzbekistan Airports JSC. Uzbekistan is one of the fastest-growing countries in the Central Asia region with great potential for business and tourism.”
