Uzbekistan-based airlines will raise their fleets by 75 to match the new Tashkent international airport project, the President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said on the MENIMCHA (in My Opinion) program on the Uzbekistan 24 TV channel.
Currently, the Uzbekistan-based companies' fleets comprises 105 aircraft, while 51 airlines from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, South Korea, China, India, Malaysia, Turkey, Russia, Poland, and other countries operating regular flights to Uzbekistan. According to Shavkat Mirziyoyev, over the next five years, the fleet will be brought to 180 aircraft, the number of routes to 230, and the passengers of domestic and international flights to 200,000 per year.
Reportedly, by area the new project is comparable in size to 16 Tashkent Cities, or 1,580 football pitches, or half of the Uchtepa district—its area will be 1,310 hectares.
"We've done all the estimates: if we deliver 180 aircraft here and implement all the necessary measures, the state will earn over $700 million in profits per year," the head of state underscored.
The president emphasized that the project was aimed at developing the country's transport infrastructure.
"Our ancestors said: 'Road problems are the hardest problems.' We're building railways and subways, elevates railwyas, and now we'll put air service in order. I think this will benefit the people," said Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
The new airport design was developed by the Dutch company Naco Consulting, which has many years of experience in designing international air hubs.
According to the president, the site has been chosen taking into account safety standards, takeoff and landing conditions.
"This is the intersection of Tashkent and the Tashkent province. The journey takes a maximum of 25 minutes—a total of 24 kilometers. We'll organize shuttle buses, and in the future, God willing, we'll build an elevated line." "Everything will work in harmony," the head of state declared.
The president noted that the new airport would become an integral part of the new city—New Tashkent—covering an area of 20,000 hectares.
On October 15, Shavkat Mirziyoyev launched the new Tashkent International Airport project. He noted that the project would lay the foundation for transforming Uzbekistan into a regional aviation hub, "connecting East and West, North and South."
The new airport will be erected approximately 7 km east of Yangiyul city. The project is being implemented under public-private partnership terms with Vision Invest (45%), Sojitz Corporation (30%), Incheon Airport Corporation (15%), and Uzbekistan Airports (10%). The first phase will involve an investment of $2.6 billion, of which $1.8 billion will be contributed for the terminal project and $800 million for airfield infrastructure.
The airport will have up to 20 million passengers and 129,000 tons of cargo annual throughput capacity, handle up to 30 takeoffs and landings per hour, and accommodate 62 aircraft simultaneously. The duty-free area will cover 46,000 square meters—almost the same size as the world's largest airports. Access highways and a railway will be erected, and a shuttle service will be launched between Tashkent and New Tashkent. The project is estimated to generate over $27 billion in revenue.
In September, Uzbekistan Airways and Boeing signed a contract for 14 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, with eight aircraft of this type available for option. Deliveries will begin in 2031 (initially planned for 2029-2032). Uzbekistan Airways has been the only operator of Dremaliners in Central Asia since 2016.
