ACI Europe: Central Asia Shows Record Aviation Traffic Growth and Needs Major Infrastructure Upgrades

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Central Asia is experiencing one of the fastest periods of aviation growth in the world, and regional airports face the need for multibillion-dollar investments in infrastructure. This was stated by Michael Stanton-Geddes, Director of Economics and Competition at ACI Europe, during the Central Asia Aviation Summit in Tashkent.

According to him, passenger traffic growth in Central Asia over the past decade has outpaced nearly all other regions globally. Nineteen airports in the region have managed to double their traffic volumes, with Uzbekistan serving as the most striking example — Tashkent Airport recorded an almost 700 percent increase.

Significant growth has also been observed in Samarkand, Fergana, Namangan, as well as in the capitals of neighboring countries, including Astana.

Stanton-Geddes emphasized that such dynamics inevitably put pressure on ground infrastructure and require long-term investments. Most airports in the region are already implementing projects to expand terminals, modernize aprons, and increase cargo terminal capacity; however, existing plans are clearly insufficient to meet future demand.

He noted that, unlike airlines, which can respond flexibly to market changes, airports are capital-intensive, slow-moving assets with planning horizons of 30–50 years. “If something doesn’t move at an airport — that’s a problem. But if something doesn’t move at an airline — that’s a different problem. These are fundamentally different business models,” he said.

According to him, airports need stable rules, long-term regulatory policies, and government support. Stanton-Geddes cited Belgium as an example, where strikes paralyzed the country’s largest international airport for several days, and increased taxes, additional regulations, and political uncertainty became serious obstacles for investors.

Against this backdrop, Central Asia, in his assessment, appears as one of the most promising zones for global aviation development.

The region’s economy is growing faster than the global average: according to the IMF, the projected average GDP growth in the coming years is about 4 percent, significantly higher than in Western Europe. Economic development directly stimulates demand for air travel, and increased flight frequencies, in turn, drive growth in trade, investment, and productivity.

Stanton-Geddes emphasized that aviation remains a “superpower” of economic development, giving countries access to global markets while supporting new industries and employment. According to ACI studies, constraining aviation growth negatively affects social indicators, education, technological development, and quality-of-life satisfaction.

However, an infrastructure leap requires significant capital. ACI Europe estimates that European airports’ debt increased by nearly €30 billion due to the pandemic and the sharp drop in revenues. This trend is typical for other regions as well.

Stanton-Geddes noted that most Central Asian airports require public-private partnership models, strategic partners, and new financing tools.

He also stressed the importance of market openness. While a strong national carrier is an advantage, it should not restrict competition. “Europe’s experience has shown that liberalization benefits the state, consumers, and the market as a whole,” he said, noting that Kazakhstan is already showing positive results due to greater openness to foreign airlines.

Discussing regulatory policy, Stanton-Geddes emphasized that sustainable development is only possible with predictable rules, transparent tariffs, and the ability of airports to cover both operating and capital costs. “Investors need visibility decades ahead. Without this, large projects simply will not happen,” he said.

He concluded his remarks by stating that Central Asia has the potential to become one of the most dynamic aviation regions in the world.

“When they discuss reducing air traffic in Brussels, here we see genuine industry growth. It’s inspiring,” he noted.