Passenger traffic at Uzbekistan’s airports rises 13% as cargo volumes grow 27%

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Airports across Uzbekistan handled 12.66 million passengers in January–September 2026, a 13% increase from the same period last year, while the number of flights rose by 10% and cargo and mail volumes grew by 27%, according to Uzbekistan Airports.

Photo: Yevgeny Sorochin / Spot

Passenger traffic at Uzbekistan’s airports rises 13% as cargo volumes grow 27% — Photo: Yevgeny Sorochin / Spot

The country’s airports handled 102,836 flights during the first nine months of the year. Of these, 71,625 were international flights, up 8%, and 31,211 were domestic flights, an increase of 17%.

International routes accounted for 10.36 million passengers, while domestic services carried 2.3 million. Passenger numbers rose by 13% and 15%, respectively, compared with the same period in 2025.

Tashkent International Airport remained the country’s busiest hub, handling 8.49 million passengers and 62,482 flights. Passenger traffic increased by 16%, while the number of flights grew by 7%.

Among regional airports, Samarkand recorded the highest passenger traffic, at 1.11 million, followed by Urgench with 724,400, Fergana with 511,000 and Namangan with 497,600.

Andijan Airport posted the fastest growth, with passenger traffic rising 8.7-fold to 161,400. Uzbekistan Airports attributed the increase to the airport’s return to operation following a major reconstruction of its airfield complex. The airport had not operated at full capacity during the same period last year.

Passenger numbers declined at some airports, including Namangan, where traffic fell by 16%, and Karshi, which recorded a 22% decrease. The company attributed the declines to changes in route networks and demand, as well as airlines adjusting flight schedules in response to geopolitical developments.

At some airports, passenger traffic increased despite a reduction in flights. Fergana, for example, recorded 5% more passengers even as the number of flights fell by 11%. At Samarkand Airport, flights declined by 2%, while passenger numbers remained unchanged from a year earlier.

Cargo and mail handling also increased. Uzbekistan’s airports processed 84,800 tonnes during the nine-month period, up 27% year on year. Tashkent Airport accounted for the bulk of the volume, handling 78,867.9 tonnes.

Uzbekistan Airports said the country’s airports had maintained growth in flight numbers, passenger traffic and cargo and mail volumes despite geopolitical developments and reductions or cancellations of flights on certain routes.