Uzbekistan Airports Handle 8.15 Million Passengers in H1

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan’s airports handled 8.15 million passengers in the first half of 2026, a 16% increase from the same period in 2025. The country’s airports handled 64,831 flights during the six-month period, while the volume of cargo and mail processed rose 33% to 51,546 tonnes.

International services accounted for 47,371 flights and 6.7 million passengers, while 1.46 million people travelled on domestic flights, with 17,460 domestic flights operated.

The largest volume of traffic was recorded at Tashkent International Airport. During the reporting period, it handled 40,283 flights, up 7% from a year earlier. Passenger traffic at the capital’s airport increased 17% to 5.36 million, while cargo and mail volumes rose 33% to 48,170 tonnes.

The growth at Tashkent airport was driven by an expanded route network. During the first half of the year, China Eastern launched flights to the capital from Shanghai, Asiana Airlines from Seoul and Shirak Avia from Yerevan. Resident airlines also launched new international routes and increased the frequency of flights on several existing routes.

Among regional airports, the most significant increase in passenger traffic was recorded in Andijan, where it rose 2,249%. The increase was attributed to the airport’s return to full operations following a major reconstruction. Andijan airport reopened on 20 March 2025 after a complete upgrade of its airfield complex, enabling it to accommodate modern wide-body aircraft. As a result, first-half 2026 figures are being compared with a period when the airport was not operating at full capacity.

Passenger traffic also increased significantly at the airports of Termez, Urgench and Nukus, rising 52%, 24% and 23%, respectively. The changes were driven by the launch of new international flights and an increase in domestic services amid strong demand during the tourist season.

At the same time, some indicators declined at the airports of Ferghana, Namangan, Karshi and Navoi. The changes were linked to adjustments in route networks, shifts in demand on individual routes and the impact of the current geopolitical situation, which led airlines to revise their schedules.

Overall, Uzbekistan’s airports maintained positive growth in the first half of 2026. The number of flights increased 8%, passenger traffic rose 16% and the volume of cargo and mail processed grew 33%.