A new collaborative effort is underway to support Uzbekistan's growing tourism industry further after the Uzbekistan Airports Joint Stock Company and Singapore's Changi Airports International inked an agreement today to jointly develop Islam Karimov Tashkent International Airport - the largest international airport in Uzbekistan, and the third busiest airport by passenger traffic in Central Asia in 2019.

Rapid growth for Uzbekistan's tourism industry

Uzbekistan, strategically located at the heart of Central Asia and the crossroads of Europe and Asia, has a bourgeoning tourism industry buoyed by its rich cultural heritage and natural beauty. Despite the pandemic, the country's main airport and home to flag carrier Uzbekistan Airways, Tashkent International Airport, never lost its drive and exceeded pre-pandemic levels last year to reach 5 million passengers.

And within the first four months of this year, passenger traffic at the airport has already amounted close to 1.93 million passengers, exceeding the figures for the same period last year by approximately 42%. An estimated 1.29 million passengers were served on domestic carriers, and although only about 631,500 passengers were served on international flights, the number was still 57% more than last year's.

Tashkent International Airport has also seen a significant air cargo turnover during the first four months of this year with a 119% increase to 2.95 thousand tons compared to the same period last year. Given the continuous and expected robust traffic growth expected from the airport and its budding tourism industry, Uzbekistan Airports Joint Stock Company plans to optimize operations at the existing airport.

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Upgrades for the old, potential for the new

Besides an aim to find ways of utilizing Tashkent International Airport a little better, Uzbekistan Airports Joint Stock Company also plans to develop a new airport that would help advance the country's trade and tourism potential - which is where the new partnership with Changi Airports International comes in, as Rano Juraeva, Chairman of the Board of Uzbekistan Airports Joint Stock Company, highlights:

"The existing airport has many limitations – with its location in the center of the city, there is simply nowhere to expand it. At the same time, passenger traffic is fast increasing with the airport reaching its capacity and not having enough aircraft parking lots during peak periods. We have invited the best airport in the world, Changi Airports International, and they will provide consultancy to optimise the operation of the existing airport in terms of aviation and non-aviation activities."

Under the agreement, the Singapore-based company will provide consultancy and technical services in the management and operation of the existing airport. These include capacity optimization, improving operational standards, commercial planning, and traffic development. Changi Airports International will also work with Uzbekistan Airports Joint Stock Company to develop and complete a feasibility study concerning the new Tashkent Airport Project.

The study will take into account the creation of an international hub and the use of the most modern airport technologies in the construction of a new air harbor, as emphasized by Eugene Gan, Chief Executive Officer of Changi Airports International:

"Changi Airports International is pleased to collaborate with Uzbekistan Airports JSC. We look forward to sharing our airport development and management expertise to optimise the capacity, operational standards and financial performance of the existing Tashkent International Airport as well as support the plans to develop the new airport, which is in the pipeline, to support Uzbekistan’s plans to grow its trade and tourism industries.”

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Bottom line

This newly inked agreement with Uzbekistan Airports Joint Stock Company is the latest for Changi Airports International, with the company having recently penned similar strategic partnerships with Cairo Airport Company and Brussels Airport earlier this year. It'd also be interesting to see what the final study will show concerning the potential for a new airport and how it will eventually support Uzbekistan's plans to grow its trade and tourism industries.

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  Singapore Changi Airport

  IATA/ICAO Code:

  SIN/WSSS

  Country:

  Singapore

  CEO:

  Lee Seow Hiang

  Passenger Count :

  3,053,000 (2021)

  Runways :

  02L/20R - 4,000m (13,123ft) | 02C/20C - 4,000m (13,123ft) | 02R/20L - 4,000m (13,123ft)

  Terminals:

  Terminal 1 | Terminal 2 | Terminal 3 | Terminal 4 | JetQuay CIP Terminal