Uzbekistan has officially launched construction of a new international airport that promises to transform the country into a major aviation hub connecting East and West. The project, undertaken by an international consortium comprising Vision Invest from Saudi Arabia, Sojitz from Japan, and Incheon International Airport Corporation from South Korea, marks one of the most ambitious infrastructure developments in Central Asia.
The new aviation gateway will rise on a 1,300-hectare site spanning the Urtachirchik and Kuichirchik districts of Tashkent region. This strategic location addresses a critical capacity constraint: the current airport, designed for 11 million passengers annually and hemmed in by urban development, has reached its expansion limits while passenger traffic has tripled over the past eight years to 9 million travelers.
The Project Scope
The development unfolds across four distinct phases, with the initial stage commanding an investment of $2.5 billion. This first phase will deliver a comprehensive aerodrome and terminal complex engineered to handle 20 million passengers and 129,000 tons of cargo annually. The facility’s operational capacity will support up to 30 aircraft movements per hour, with infrastructure to accommodate 62 aircraft simultaneously and 14 telescopic boarding bridges.
Technical Capabilities and Green Standards
The airport will meet all International Civil Aviation Organization standards for service quality, flight safety, and technical regulation. State-of-the-art air navigation and meteorological systems will enable all-weather operations, ensuring service continuity regardless of atmospheric conditions.
Setting a regional precedent, this will be Central Asia’s first airport built according to green construction principles. The terminal will feature a 46,000-square-meter duty-free zone, positioning the facility as both a transit point and commercial destination.
Strategic Transport Integration
The airport forms the centerpiece of an emerging multimodal transport node. Direct highway connections will link the facility to the Tashkent-Samarkand, Tashkent-Andijan, and Tashkent-Bostanlyk corridors. A modern railway station will serve high-speed train services, while shuttle transport will connect the airport to both central Tashkent and the developing New Tashkent district.
Economic Context and Impact
The timing reflects urgent market dynamics: passenger numbers are projected to exceed 24 million by 2040. The current infrastructure, landlocked within the capital’s urban fabric, cannot scale to meet this demand.
The project initiation ceremony saw participation from President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who laid a foundation capsule at the construction site. His presence underscored government commitment to positioning Uzbekistan as a regional aviation hub, though the project’s commercial and strategic value stands on its own merits.
Economic projections estimate the development will generate over $27 billion in revenue for Uzbekistan while catalyzing growth across services, industrial production, and tourism sectors. The construction and subsequent operations will create thousands of employment opportunities, with ripple effects throughout the regional economy.
For international companies in construction materials, interior design, furniture manufacturing, and architectural services, this mega-project represents substantial procurement opportunities. The terminal’s vast commercial areas, passenger facilities, and operational spaces will require comprehensive fit-out solutions. Moreover, the airport’s role as a multimodal hub promises to dramatically improve logistics connectivity for manufacturers and traders operating in or targeting Central Asian markets. The green construction standards also create demand for sustainable building materials and environmentally conscious design solutions. As Uzbekistan positions itself as a regional transit center, companies establishing relationships through this project gain strategic access to a market increasingly integrated with global supply chains.
