Tashkent International Airport Hits Near 10 Million Passengers: What's Next for Uzbekistan's Hub?

Tashkent International Airport (TAS) cemented its status as Uzbekistan’s largest aviation hub in 2025. The airport served 9,964,602 passengers during the year. This figure, reported by Uzbekistan Airports, is a significant milestone.

This volume represents a 14% passenger traffic growth over 2024. In the previous year, the airport handled 8,725,521 passengers. Flight numbers also saw a 15% rise, totaling 40,153 operations. Tashkent remains the country's primary gateway, accounting for nearly two-thirds of all national air traffic.

Drivers of Passenger Traffic Growth

The strong growth reflects Uzbekistan’s expanding global connectivity. Increased flight frequency and network expansion were key drivers. The airport maintains regular connections across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. This aligns with global trends tracked by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

International routes expansion accounted for the majority of the traffic. For instance, the Tashkent-Moscow route was the busiest international connection. Tashkent-Istanbul was the second most popular route. Leading global carriers like Emirates help connect the region to worldwide destinations. The fastest-growing route was a leisure connection to Sharm el-Sheikh. This route saw a 48% surge in passenger volume.

Domestic flights also saw steady demand throughout 2025. The Tashkent-Urgench route was the busiest domestic air link.

Infrastructure and Capacity Challenges

The surge in passenger numbers highlights a critical challenge. The current Tashkent International Airport is nearing its operational limits. Its existing capacity is approximately 11 million passengers annually. This airport capacity limits issue necessitates immediate infrastructure solutions. The airport operator has been implementing short-term fixes. Renovations to the arrivals hall were completed in late 2025. This increased the hall's area by nearly twofold.

The Future: New Tashkent International Airport

To manage sustained passenger traffic growth, a major project is underway. Authorities broke ground on the New Tashkent International Airport in October 2025. This new facility is a critical step for the country. It aims to transform Uzbekistan into a major Central Asia aviation hub. The new airport is being developed under a public-private partnership. Key partners include Vision Invest, Sojitz Corporation, and Incheon International Airport Corporation.

• The new hub is projected to handle up to 20 million passengers annually.
• It will feature a fully digital terminal complex.
• The facility will be designed to meet high international standards.

This development is crucial for the region's economy. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) emphasizes infrastructure investment. Such investment is vital for safe and efficient air travel. The new airport will support Uzbekistan's growing role as a transit and tourism destination. For more updates on this and other industry developments, visit our commercial aviation news section. The overall goal is to sustain the country's economic development. It will solidify Tashkent's position as a key regional aviation gateway.