Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Central Asia is strengthening its position as a transit corridor for global air cargo and is gradually emerging as an alternative route between Europe and Asia, according to a new report by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), titled “The Growing Role of Central Asia in Global Air Cargo Flows.”
Since 2019, the volume of regional air cargo shipments has more than doubled. At the same time, the share of direct transit increased from 59% to around 65% of total air cargo volumes in Central Asia.
The most notable growth among countries in the region was recorded in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Between 2019 and 2024, the combined volume of inbound, outbound and direct transit cargo shipments increased by 182% in Uzbekistan and by 149% in Kazakhstan.
The growth in outbound cargo flows points to an expansion of the region’s role, IATA said. Central Asia is gradually moving beyond its traditional function as a technical stop and developing logistics and consolidation capabilities linking Europe and China.
Improved transport connectivity, growing activity among air cargo carriers and integration into major trade corridors are creating conditions for the region to develop further as a multimodal logistics hub. IATA said realizing this potential will require continued investment in infrastructure, transport connectivity and operational efficiency.
The association identified three key areas for governments and industry stakeholders.
The first is further digitalisation of cargo transportation. According to IATA, cargo information is still stored across fragmented systems, leading to duplicated processes, risks of delays and difficulties in meeting compliance requirements. Since January 2026, the IATA ONE Record standard has been the preferred method for exchanging cargo data. Airlines accounting for more than 70% of the world’s air waybill volume plan to implement the standard with support from technology providers, freight forwarders and other participants in the digital supply chain.
The second area is the consistent implementation of global standards. IATA noted that fragmentation increases process complexity, which in turn raises the risk of delays.
The third is the safety and security of the supply chain. ICAO Annex 18 remains the global framework for the safe transport of dangerous goods by air, but IATA said it requires modernisation to reflect changes in the industry. Among the emerging risks identified by the association are undeclared dangerous goods, improper handling of lithium batteries and deliberate attempts to misuse cargo systems.
IATA believes updating Annex 18 would bring regulations into line with current operational realities and strengthen the safety of the entire supply chain.
“The region’s growth potential is enormous. However, it is important that airlines, governments and all participants in the cargo industry adhere to the global standards underpinning the transformation of air cargo,” said Brendan Sullivan, IATA’s Global Head of Cargo.
According to Sullivan, this would help accelerate the delivery of goods to markets while also improving the safety and security of air cargo.
