President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a presentation of transport projects onFriday. According to the presidential press service, new international airport will be erected in Tashkent province. Currently, proposals from foreign companies are being considered within the framework of a private partnership mechanism.
A new airport is absolutely vital. Postponing this process for 10 years will result in $8.6 billion of incurred losses to the GDP. The opportunity to become an regional air hub will reportedly be missed".
"The selected land plot for a new international airport is located 17 kilometers from the existing international airport in Tashkent, south of the capital, near the existing highway connecting Tashkent with Samarkand, and on the route of the future Tashkent to Samarkand highway. That is, the construction of the new airport is planned in a place where there is transport and logistics infrastructure," the head of the Ministry of Transport said.
The CEO of Uzbekistan Airports Javlonbek Umarkhodjaev said that the current Tashkent international airport has an annual capacity serving up to 11 million passengers. The capacity is 17 takeoffs and landings per hour, and up to 70 aircraft can be accommodated on the apron at the same time.
According to him, with the development of the economy by 2030, passenger traffic through Tashkent may rise to 15 million people. Even taking into account the modernization, the current airport of the capital does not have the necessary capacity and, being within the city limits, cannot be expanded.
"Therefore, there was an objective need to build a new airport with commissioning by 2030... The existing airport is located near the city center, which creates traffic congestion. In addition, the location of the runways and dense urban development limit the maneuverability of aircraft and further expansion," Umarkhodjaev was quoted as saying by the Uzbekistan 24 TV channel.
He said that the president had decided to begin construction of a new Tashkent airport. At the first stage, the airport will be able to serve up to 20 million passengers per year, simultaneously accommodate 169 aircraft and provide more than 40 takeoffs and landings per hour.
Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance Ilkhom Umrzakov said that the financial side of the project would be further reviewed on the directives of the head of state.
