Samarkand International Airport: a historic milestone achieved.
The international airport of Samarkand set a new historical record in 2024, serving over 1.38 million passengers, which is a 37 percent increase compared to 2023. The most significant growth was observed in the international transportation segment, where passenger traffic rose by 43 percent.
In the center of our country lies the Samarkand region, which has well-developed trade, industry, tourism, hospitality, and agriculture sectors. The investment environment and business climate are also improving. Positive changes are being achieved, partly due to the government's attention and the development of transportation infrastructure, a crucial component of the region's economy.
On November 26 of last year, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was briefed on the progress of transformational processes in state-owned companies within the railway and aviation sectors. It was noted that significant changes are taking place in the first sector, both in terms of economic efficiency and convenience for the public. Progress is also evident in aviation companies. The number of flights within the Uzbekistan Airways system has increased by 25 percent. Eight new aircraft have been allocated for domestic routes, and the number of domestic flights has grown 2.5 times. The share of the national airline in international transportation in Central Asia has reached 20 percent.
The main focus of Uzbekistan Airports is on increasing the volume of services provided and expanding private partnerships. After transferring the Samarkand airport to private management, the number of flights and passengers increased fivefold. Similar objectives are now set for the airports in Namangan, Andijan, Bukhara, and Urgench.
The key factor behind this growth has been the effective development of cooperation with existing airlines and the attraction of new partners. As a result, the Samarkand airport continues to strengthen its position as a key transportation hub in the region.
In 2024, the primary growth in passenger traffic came from international destinations, serving over 1.31 million people. The most popular routes were from Samarkand to Moscow, Istanbul, Saint Petersburg, Abu Dhabi, and Jeddah.
Among the new destinations opened last year were Xi'an (China), Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt), Turkestan (Kazakhstan), Tyumen, Nizhny Novgorod, and Irkutsk (Russia).
Innovations have been introduced: a special call button for individuals with disabilities has been installed, allowing them to connect with staff for necessary assistance; free luggage scales are available in the terminal, significantly simplifying the preparation process for flights; and cafes, pastry shops, and stores are operational.
The strategic direction of the management of the international airport of Samarkand for 2025 is aimed at expanding the route network and improving service quality. Plans also include opening new destinations, further modernizing airport infrastructure, and implementing digital services to streamline passenger interactions with the airport.