Passenger numbers at Uzbekistan airports surge in three months
Uzbekistan Airports has reported a significant surge in aviation activity for the first quarter of 2026, with passenger traffic rising by 19% to nearly 4 million people compared to the same period last year. Total flight operations increased by 10% to over 30,000, while cargo and mail volumes saw a 14% uptick, reaching nearly 20,000 tons. Tashkent International Airport remains the nation's primary hub, handling 2.56 million passengers, while Samarkand led regional airports with over 376,000 travelers. Experts attribute this robust growth to the expansion of international flight networks, the opening of new routes, and a steady rise in demand for domestic travel.
"Uzbekistan Airports" company announced its performance results for January-March 2026. According to the report, a significant increase was recorded at the country's airports in passenger flow, number of flights, and cargo volume.
In the first three months of the current year, a total of 30,859 flights were operated through the republic's airports, which is nearly 10 percent more than the same period last year. The majority of these flights — 22,885 — were on international routes, while 7,974 were domestic flights.
Passenger numbers also increased significantly. During the reporting period, a total of over 3.987 million passenger journeys were made through the airports. Of these, 3.32 million were on international routes, and 663,500 traveled within the country. This represents an almost 19 percent increase compared to the first quarter of 2025.
Tashkent International Airport, traditionally the country's largest aviation hub, maintains its leading position. The airport served 2.56 million passengers and operated nearly 19,000 flights over the three months.
Activity was also high among regional airports. In particular, Samarkand Airport became the leading regional hub with 376,400 passengers. It was followed by Urgench (222,000), Namangan (210,100), and Fergana (161,200) airports.
Cargo transportation indicators also showed positive dynamics. During the first quarter, 19,783 tons of cargo and postal items were transported through the airports, showing a 14 percent increase compared to last year.
According to experts, such growth rates indicate the steady development of the country's aviation sector. The expansion of international flight geography, the opening of new routes, and the increasing demand for domestic flights are the main factors behind these results.
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