Uzbekistan: Tashkent International Airport relocation project approved

As part of the modernization of the national transport infrastructure, Uzbekistan is launching a strategic project to move the capital's international airport outside the city. The relevant decision was announced during the presentation of major initiatives in the transport sector with the participation of the head of state.

The main reason for the move was the congestion of the existing airport located within the capital. Against the background of a steady increase in passenger traffic, the current air harbor's capabilities are exhausted. Physically, the terminal complex is limited to urban development, which makes it impossible to scale it further in accordance with international requirements and the growth prospects of air traffic.

According to the approved plans, the new aviation platform will be built on the territory of the Tashkent region. The new hub is expected to be operational by 2030. At the current stage, consultations are being held with foreign companies on architectural and technological solutions, as well as optimization of the investment model of construction.

The idea of moving the airport outside the city limits has been discussed since the early 1990s. Back in 1992, potential locations were considered at a distance of about 45 kilometers southwest of the capital and 12 kilometers north of Chinaz. However, active development of the project began only in 2022, when experts began to analyze transport accessibility, calculate cargo and passenger flows, as well as assess the budget and extra-budgetary load.

The transfer of the airport will significantly relieve the urban transport system, increase the environmental sustainability of the capital and form a new generation logistics cluster with opportunities for cross-border transportation and multimodal services. At the same time, it is planned to ensure connectivity of the new facility with key road and railway arteries of the country.

The new airport project is seen as part of a long-term strategy to strengthen Uzbekistan's transit potential and adapt its infrastructure to the growing demands of regional mobility and international logistics.