In the first half of 2026, Uzbekistan's airports handled 64,831 flights, an 8% increase compared to the same period last year, according to a press release from Uzbekistan Airports. Of the total flights, 47,371 were international and 17,460 were domestic.
Passenger traffic reached 8,153,470 people, up 16% year-on-year. International flights carried 6,698,358 passengers, while domestic flights served 1,455,112. Cargo and mail volume amounted to 51,546 tons, a 33% increase from the first half of 2025.
Tashkent International Airport maintained its leading position, handling 40,283 flights (+7%), 5,364,282 passengers (+17%), and 48,170 tons of cargo and mail (+33%). The company attributed the growth at the capital's airport to an expanding route network.
Among regional airports, Andijan recorded the highest passenger growth at 2,249%. This sharp increase is linked to the airport's reopening after extensive reconstruction, the report said. Andijan Airport resumed operations on March 20, 2025, following a complete overhaul of its airfield complex, enabling it to accommodate modern wide-body aircraft. Consequently, the first-half 2026 figures are compared to a period when the airport was not yet operating at full capacity.
Significant growth was also observed at Termez (+52%), Urganch (+24%), and Nukus (+23%) airports. The increase in passenger traffic at these airports is attributed to the launch of new international routes and a rise in domestic flights due to high demand during the tourist season.
However, some airports experienced declines: Fergana (flight numbers down 11%), Namangan (passenger numbers down 11%), Karshi (flights down 6%, passengers down 22%), and Navoi (passengers down 27%). Uzbekistan Airports explained that these decreases are due to changes in route network structure, shifts in demand on certain routes, and airlines revising flight schedules under the influence of the current geopolitical situation.
It is worth recalling that in the first quarter of 2026, Uzbekistan's airports served nearly 4 million passengers, a 19% increase from the same period in 2025.
Source: www.gazeta.uz