Tashkent airport opens renovated arrivals hall with expanded facilities

“If an arriving passenger was elderly or traveling with a young child, one person could be allowed in as an exception after presenting all required documents. In the past, people waiting for passengers had to stay outside in various weather conditions. Now, they can wait comfortably inside the hall – warm during cold days and cool during hot days,” said Jasur Polatov, Director of Tashkent International Airport.

According to Polatov, the old terminal’s exit area was narrow and had stairs, which caused inconvenience for passengers.

“As you can see, we have now built a separate ramp for luggage carts, making it easier to exit the terminal. Passengers with light luggage can use the stairs, and we have also installed an escalator to assist passengers with limited mobility. This has created a more accessible environment for all travelers,” he explained.

The arrivals terminal area in front of the building has been expanded by 2,200 square meters, allowing for the construction of a new parking lot that can accommodate 347 vehicles at once. As a result of the reconstruction, the waiting area – which previously seated 200 people – has been expanded to nearly 5,000 square meters.

Local passengers have expressed their satisfaction with the improvements. “It’s beautiful – it really lifts your spirits when you arrive. We’ve come from Kazakhstan and are waiting for my mother. Everything is so nice and clean,” said Umida Qodirqulova.

In the past, passengers often complained about delays in receiving their luggage. According to the airport management, these issues are now being resolved.

“In terms of infrastructure, passengers now reach the arrivals hall from the aircraft in no more than 12 minutes. In major international airports, this typically takes at least 20–25 minutes. Since our time gap is shorter, we started optimizing operations. Previously, we had only four luggage belts, allowing us to handle around eight flights simultaneously. With the expansion of the hall, we’ve installed a fifth belt, which enables us to serve two additional flights at once,” Polatov said.

In addition, a new terrace with a scenic view has been built on the second floor of the airport, offering a pleasant space where departing passengers and their families can spend time together.

Currently, the arrivals terminal serves between 20,000 and 22,000 passengers per day. Once construction is fully completed, the total area of the terminal will exceed 16,000 square meters, with a capacity to handle up to 2,400 passengers per hour. As part of the renovation, the VIP departure lounge has also been expanded by 300 square meters, increasing its total area to 1,400 square meters. The upgrade has made the interior visually more spacious and increased the number of seats available.