Uzbekistan air routes nearly double in ten years - IATA

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan's air route network has nearly doubled over the past decade, growing from 109 regularly scheduled routes in 2015 to 206 in 2025, according to data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The growth represents an 89 percent increase. Over the same period, the number of airlines operating in the Uzbek market tripled, expanding from 16 to 47.

At the same time, the report notes structural vulnerabilities within the network. Of all the routes closed over the ten-year period, 96 percent were flights with a capacity of fewer than 20,000 seats per year. This threshold corresponds to approximately five weekly flights on an ATR-72 aircraft or two weekly flights on a narrow-body aircraft.

As of 2025, 47 percent of all active routes fall into the low-passenger category, offering fewer than 20,000 seats per year. In 2015, their share stood at 53 percent.

Fifty-seven percent of current routes differ from those that existed in 2015, indicating a deep restructuring of flight geography.

Regular air communication spans 11 airports in the country. Nine of them—91 percent—are classified as regional, meaning the annual passenger traffic at each does not exceed one million departures.

By network structure, medium-haul flights between 1,500 and 4,000 kilometers predominate, accounting for 63 percent of all directions. Very short-haul routes up to 500 kilometers make up 14 percent, short-haul flights from 500 to 1,500 kilometers account for 10 percent, and long-haul destinations exceeding 4,000 kilometers represent 14 percent.

A relatively small but notable portion of the routes is served by multiple carriers. Four or more airlines operate on 10 percent of the routes. Routes with a single carrier account for 50 percent of the network, though their share is significantly lower by seat volume at 19 percent.

The network also expanded on an annual basis. In 2025, 24 new routes were added, while 23 were closed and 20 previously operating routes were resumed. The final net growth compared to 2024 was 11 percent.

The IATA report is based on OAG data and was prepared by the sustainability and economics division of the association.