IATA Urges Uzbekistan to Adopt Comprehensive Aviation Strategy

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is urging Uzbekistan to develop a national airport master plan and adopt a unified aviation strategy. The recommendation came from Rafael Schwartzman, IATA's Regional Vice President for Europe.

Schwartzman noted that the country's aviation market — serving a population of nearly 40 million — is posting rapid growth in both passenger and cargo segments, but warned that this growth remains fragile without coherent government planning.

"You need to understand which airports you are going to develop and how. For a country with cities like Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva, domestic connectivity holds enormous potential — but you cannot develop all your airports at once," he said.

Safety concerns and carrier instability

Schwartzman raised concerns over the growing number of new airlines ceasing operations and flight delays stretching to 15–20 hours, as reported by market participants.

He urged authorities to make IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) certification a mandatory condition for any airline seeking operating permits in Uzbekistan. "It is precisely the absence of a rigorous safety management system that leads to aircraft breakdowns. IOSA is the tool that will help authorities bring order to the market," he stressed.

Schwartzman pointed out that Kazakhstan spent between 10 and 15 years working its way off the EU aviation safety blacklist, while Uzbekistan has maintained compliance with European safety standards throughout — a competitive advantage the country cannot afford to squander.

IATA also recommends overhauling the regulatory framework governing airport fuel supply and ground handling, both of which have a significant bearing on airline operating costs.

Cargo potential and the geopolitical factor

IATA directly attributes the surge in cargo traffic across Central Asia to the geopolitical shifts following 2022. Airspace restrictions arising from the conflict in Ukraine have rerouted a portion of freight flows through Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

"Being double landlocked makes reliable air connectivity critical to your economy. Cargo is a clear government priority — and rightly so," Schwartzman said.

He singled out the cargo terminal in Navoi, Uzbekistan — originally built with Korean partners and designed to serve as a dedicated cargo hub — as a key strategic asset. He identified a comparable opportunity for Kazakhstan at Karaganda airport, which benefits from better access to JET A-1 aviation fuel.

Tourism as a growth driver

Schwartzman described Uzbekistan as the region's most promising tourism market, pointing to the country's exceptional cultural heritage. "Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva — these are fantastic destinations. Uzbekistan has a significant edge over its neighbors in cultural tourism, and that advantage needs to be monetized through route development," he said.

On the broader regional picture, he acknowledged the untapped nature tourism potential of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, while noting that access to these destinations remains underdeveloped.

IATA's regional presence

In April 2026, IATA opened a representative office in Tashkent, complementing its existing office in Astana. Azerbaijan is managed from the association's Istanbul office. Schwartzman himself traveled to Tashkent in April 2026 for consultations with the Ministry of Transport, the Civil Aviation Authority, air traffic management, and airport operators.

"We opened the office because we saw support from both the government and the airlines. We would not have done it otherwise," he said.

Uzbekistan Airways is a long-standing and currently the only IATA member from Uzbekistan. Schwartzman expressed hope that other Uzbek carriers — a sector that has seen significant growth in recent years — will follow suit and join the association.

BSP and agent accreditation

In April 2026, IATA announced the launch of its Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) in Uzbekistan. To date, 14 Uzbek agencies have received IATA accreditation — 12 in the passenger segment and two in cargo.

Schwartzman said the association expects the number of accredited agents to grow substantially, projecting that it could triple or more. "The current 12 agencies are large consolidators. Their sub-agents will have a direct incentive to seek accreditation in their own right," he explained.

The launch of BSP, according to the IATA representative, will introduce genuine competition to the ticketing market and improve affordability for travelers. At present, all settlements run through consolidators under bilateral arrangements, limiting both transparency and competition.

Hub ambitions: a reality check

Addressing the ambitions of regional countries to position themselves as aviation hubs between Europe and Central Asia, Schwartzman urged a dose of realism. He noted that Turkish Airlines holds a commanding position on Europe-Asia routes, making direct competition extremely challenging.

"Everyone wants to be a hub. But not everyone will manage it. Focus on connectivity — not on copying the Dubai or Istanbul model," he said, adding that building a sustainable regional hub requires a strong domestic route base, something most Central Asian countries have yet to develop.