Tashkent International Airport is a historic Central Asian hub preparing for a total replacement
In short: Tashkent International Airport has evolved from a 1924 regional landing strip into the seventh-busiest hub in the former Soviet Union. While the current facility undergoes continuous modern upgrades, it is destined for closure by 2030 as a new, larger airport is constructed to accommodate the region's rapidly growing air traffic.
The history of aviation in Tashkent began on 12 May 1924, with a flight to Pishpek and Alma-Ata. By 1958, the site earned Class I international status, and it eventually hosted the supersonic Tu-144 in 1972. Today, the airport serves as the primary hub for Uzbekistan Airways, which was established in 1992. The facility is currently managed by the state-owned company Uzbekistan Airports, following a 2018 reform that separated airport operations from the national airline.
The existing airport is physically constrained by its location within the city, situated just 6 kilometres from the center of Tashkent. Designed for a capacity of 11 million passengers annually, it is expected to reach this limit by 2029. To address this, construction of a new international airport began in the Tashkent Region in October 2025, with an opening scheduled for late 2030. Once the new facility is operational, the current Islam Karimov Tashkent International Airport will cease operations.
Despite its impending closure, the airport has seen significant recent investment. Between 2021 and 2025, the international terminal underwent multiple expansions, including a nearly 50% increase in floor area and the addition of new baggage carousels and premium lounges like the Anjir Business Lounge. The airfield remains robust, featuring two parallel runways capable of handling long-haul aircraft like the Boeing 787. In 2025, the airport handled 9,986,445 passengers, reflecting its status as a vital link between Europe, Southeast Asia, and the United States.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Tashkent International Airport
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