Uzbekistan Could Become Key Eurasian Aviation Hub

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan has significant potential to become a major aviation hub on the Europe-Asia route, but achieving this status will require addressing a number of infrastructure and market challenges. This was stated by Suresh Subudhi, Managing Director and Senior Partner at Boston Consulting Group, at a session of the Tashkent International Investment Forum dedicated to the development of the aviation industry.

According to him, Central Asia is currently the world's fastest-growing aviation subregion, with Uzbekistan among the leaders of this growth. In 2025, passenger air traffic in the region is estimated at around 60 million people, with demand for air travel in Uzbekistan growing significantly faster than the pace of economic growth.

According to the data presented, the number of air passengers in the country grew from 6.5 million in 2019 to 15.5 million in 2025, an average annual growth rate of 16%. Over the same period, air cargo volumes nearly doubled, from 49,400 to 98,100 tonnes. Meanwhile, the country's real GDP grew from US$107.4 billion to US$152.4 billion, corresponding to average annual growth of around 6%.

Subudhi noted that market development is driven not only by economic growth but also by the gradual improvement in the affordability of air travel. In his assessment, the potential for further expansion remains significant, since airfare prices in Uzbekistan remain high relative to income levels.

Rising demand has encouraged the active entry of new air carriers. While the market was served by 16 airlines in 2017, that number had grown to 68 by 2025. Foreign carriers account for the majority, with 51 companies compared with 17 local ones.

The expert cited consistent measures to attract investment as an additional factor in the industry's development. These include ensuring the convertibility of the national currency, establishing a legal framework for public-private partnerships, privatisation programmes for state enterprises, and the implementation of airport infrastructure projects.

According to BCG data, foreign investment in Uzbekistan grew from US$4 billion in 2017 to more than US$40 billion in 2025.

Particular attention during the presentation was given to the country's transit potential. Despite its favourable geographic position on the Europe-Asia route, transit passengers accounted for only 3% of Uzbekistan's air traffic in 2024. By comparison, this figure reaches 40-70% at the world's largest aviation hubs, such as Istanbul and Dubai.

The expert also highlighted prospects for tourism development. According to the presentation, Uzbekistan was visited by 11.7 million international tourists in 2025, one of the highest figures in the region. At the same time, the formation of a unified Central Asian tourism space is being hindered by the weak development of intraregional air connectivity, with such routes accounting for only 4% of the region's total seat capacity.

Among the key conditions for turning Uzbekistan into a regional aviation centre, Suresh Subudhi cited the development of airport infrastructure, improved regulation, expansion of the route network, the adoption of digital technologies and artificial intelligence, training of qualified personnel, and the timely implementation of investment projects.

At the same time, he pointed to several serious challenges. The first relates to growing competition for regional hub status from neighbouring countries that are actively modernising their own airports. The second risk involves possible delays and cost overruns in infrastructure projects. The third challenge cited by the expert is the need to improve the competitiveness of national airlines in an open market environment.

In Subudhi's assessment, Uzbekistan already has the combination of factors needed to build a strong aviation centre, including rising demand, growing investment potential, and a favourableable geographic location. However, realising these advantages will require coordinated efforts among the government, airports, airlines, investors, and stable geographic location and stable, however, realising these advantages will require coordinated efforts among the government, airports, airlines, investors, and the tourism industry.