Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 17 February 2023, a press conference for the media was held at the Tashkent International Airport at which Rano Juraeva, Chairman of the Board of Uzbekistan Airports JSC, summed up the results of 2022, spoke about the company’s achievements and plans for 2023.

According to ICAO, the total global passenger traffic by the end of 2022 recovered by 70% compared to the pre-pandemic 2019. And the passenger traffic of Uzbekistan exceeded the pre-pandemic year by 22% and amounted to 7.9 million passengers. The growth of passenger traffic in 2022 by 2021 amounted to 46%. 1.7 million passengers were served on domestic flights in 2022, which is 30% more than in 2019 due to the increase in frequencies and routes of Uzbekistan Airways. The growth of domestic passenger traffic in 2022 by 2021 amounted to 82%.

These indicators were achieved by reducing rates and fees by 42%, as well as through an effective commercial policy to attract international airlines, including through work with diplomatic missions of Uzbekistan abroad and representatives of foreign embassies in Uzbekistan. The tourist conference Discovering Uzbekistan, organized by Uzbekistan Airports, made an undoubted contribution.

In 2023, it is planned to increase passenger traffic to 9.29 million passengers (an increase of 18% by 2022). Such indicators are expected based on the creation of new resident airlines (Panorama Airways, Centrum Air, Air Samarkand, Sayohat Air, Semurg, Silk Avia) and an increase in the fleet of resident airlines by 34 aircraft, as well as ongoing work to attract new 20 foreign airlines.

In 2022, 28 new airlines were attracted to the airports of Uzbekistan, and the route network expanded to 73 destinations. In 2022, flights were distributed as follows: 47% - flights to / from CIS countries, 31% - Middle East countries, 15% - Asian countries and 7% - European countries.

In terms of cargo transportation, there is also an increase in indicators. At the airports of Uzbekistan in 2022, 80.1 thousand tons of cargo and mail were served, which is 62% higher than in 2019. In 2023, it is planned to increase the volume of cargo to 95.3 thousand tons (an increase of 19% by 2022), including through the completion of the reconstruction of Navoi Airport and the involvement of the international cargo operator "G Ports Ground Handling Services Sole Proprietorship LLC" ( structural subdivision of TERMINALS HOLDING SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP LLC).

In 2022, Uzbekistan Airports’ revenues increased by 44% compared to 2021, and export revenue by 35% due to attracting new airlines and expanding the route network. According to the forecasts of the company’s analysts, in 2023 revenues are expected to increase by 32%, export earnings - by 8%. Tax payments to the budget for 2022 increased by 159% by 2021 and amounted to 560.7 billion soums. In 2023, it is planned to bring deductions to the budget to 590.8 billion soums. During the past year, 626 new jobs were created in the management company itself and in all its structural divisions.

Uzbekistan Airports is gradually updating the outdated fleet of special equipment at airports. In 2021, 48 units of special equipment were purchased for $5.2 million, in 2022 - 112 units for $14.5 million. The need to upgrade special equipment at airports in 2023 is 199 units in the amount of $42.7 million. 2115.1 billion soums were invested in the modernization of airports, the development of information technologies and the creation of a regional carrier based on the low-cost model in 2021 and 2022. In 2023, investments in the amount of 2,394.8 billion soums are planned.

Given the rapidly growing passenger traffic at the airports of Uzbekistan and at the airport of the capital, in particular, it is necessary to gradually expand the air terminal complex by optimizing and reconstructing existing areas and building new ones. By this day, several blocks of the departure terminal have been handed over at once. An aviation security screening area with a total area of 935 sq.m. has been built. Nine screening corridors allow up to 2,400 passengers to pass at rush hour. CEIA (Italy) scanners for liquid containers, clothes and shoes are installed in the inspection area to detect flammable and explosive substances, metal objects without the need to remove shoes or open containers with liquid. The hall is also equipped with Smiths Detection X-ray television equipment (Germany) for screening hand luggage and oversized luggage. To ensure enhanced security measures, ProVision2 body scanners from Leidos (USA) were installed, which allow quick and contactless screening of passengers.

The left part of the sterile zone of the airport "Tashkent" with an area of 2640 sq.m. was also reconstructed. Another Duty-Free store and the Art Bazaar trade pavilion were opened on the new territory, where there are shops of hunarmands(craftsmen), national gastronomy, gadgets and international SIM cards, jewelry, baby food, sweets, a pharmacy and a cafe-bar. The first co-working coner with the possibility of charging electronic devices has also been organized in the sterile zone. In the near future, it is planned to organize several more such conners in different locations of the terminal.

By the end of March, another block in the sterile zone will be commissioned, which will include a capsule hotel, bathrooms, rooms for ablution and prayers, as well as the Anjir business hall. This is a completely new construction, it will expand the airport complex by another 875 sq.m, which will create comfortable conditions for international and transfer passengers. By the same time, it is planned to improve the territory in front of the arrivals terminal of the Tashkent international airport, having built two zones for greeters with a total area of about 1400 sq.m - one instead of the existing shed, the other - in the P2 parking lot between departure and arrival. It is important to note that a team of domestic and foreign specialists is working on the project for the reconstruction of the Tashkent airport, taking into account industry and seismological construction standards. During the reconstruction, all engineering networks in the airport complex were replaced: power supply, heating, water supply, sewerage, ventilation and air conditioning.

Work is also underway to modernize the airfield complex of the Tashkent airport: the reconstruction of the second runway and the installation of modern lighting equipment are being completed, work has been completed on the reconstruction of taxiways RD-1, RD-2A and parking lot B6. 

The design was completed and an agreement was concluded with a contractor for the reconstruction of 8 parking lots and two taxiways RD-B, RD-H. The design of 35 parking spaces for aircraft continues - 3 new places, 32 places are being reconstructed.