Over the past five years, Uzbekistan has achieved the fastest growth rate in air freight traffic among Central Asian nations. Reports indicate that the total volume of air cargo in Central Asia more than doubled during this period. For comparison, while cargo volume remained virtually unchanged in Hong Kong—one of the world's largest aviation hubs—and decreased by nearly 5% in Frankfurt, Europe's primary air freight hub, Central Asia experienced a massive surge.
In terms of absolute volume, Kazakhstan still leads the region, with its total incoming, outgoing, and direct transit cargo increasing by 149% compared to 2019. However, with a remarkable growth rate of 182%, Uzbekistan outperformed Kyrgyzstan to secure the highest pace of expansion.
Analysts note that direct transit is the primary driver behind this boom in Central Asian air freight. Under this system, cargo passes through airports without requiring customs clearance. Consequently, the share of direct transit within the region's total air cargo volume has risen from 59% to nearly 65%.
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