Shakhrisabz airport reopens for civil aviation flights

According to a report from Uzbekistan Airports, the first flight by Silk Avia from Tashkent landed at the airport at 13:10 local time. The flight duration was 1 hour and 30 minutes.

The airplane was welcomed with a ceremonial water arch, and the first passengers were greeted with traditional musical performances. Flights to the airport have resumed nearly 21 years after its closure. Shakhrisabz Airport was closed in November 2003.

The airport, located 5 kilometers southwest of Shakhrisabz, first opened in 1983. Between 1983 and 1996, flights operated between Tashkent and Shakhrisabz four times a week during the summer and three times a week during the fall and winter seasons. There were also twice-weekly flights on the Urgench-Shakhrisabz route. From 1993 to 1995, flights were operated on the Tashkent-Karshi-Shakhrisabz route. Aircraft such as the An-2, An-24, Yak-40, and RJ-85 were used for these flights.

Currently, the airport has the capacity to handle civil aviation flights. Its runway is 1,554 meters long and 35 meters wide, with two parking spaces for airplanes and four for helicopters. The airport can accommodate aircraft such as the ATR-42, ATR-72, L-410, and all types of helicopters. The airport complex can serve up to 100 passengers per hour.