Samarkand International Airport has unveiled its brand-new terminal, which will more than triple the airport's capacity. The modernization project, which will enable the airport to handle up to 1,000 passengers per hour, also includes a runway extension of 3.1km and modernized infrastructure.

New $80 million terminal

The grand opening of Samarkand International Airport's new terminal took place on March 18th. The terminal handled its inaugural flight, flown by Uzbekistan Airways from Tashkent, as part of an opening ceremony attended by more than 250 people.

The $80 million project is a public-private venture between Air Marakanda and state partner Uzbekistan Airports JCS. The construction work was conducted by Uzbek firm Enter Engineering, while Turkish company KIKLOP Design and Engineering designed the terminal.

Air Marakanda’s Deputy General Director of Operations, Hilmi Yilmaz, said,

"On behalf of the entire staff of Air Marakanda, I thank our government and all partners, without whom the implementation of such a large-scale project would have been impossible."

Attendees at the opening ceremony include the First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Achilbay Ramatov; Minister of Transport, Ilkhom Makhkamov; Khokim of the Samarkand Region, Erkinjon Turdimov; and Chairman of the Board of Uzbekistan Airports, Rano Juraeva.

Yilmaz added,

"I am certain Samarkand International Airport, as one of the region’s most important infrastructure facilities, will stimulate economic growth and business development in the adjacent areas, creating jobs for the local population and benefit society as a whole."

2 million passengers per year forecasted

The new terminal will significantly boost the annual capacity at Samarkand International Airport, not to mention adding state-of-the-art facilities. Research firm Lufthansa Consulting forecasts an increase in annual passenger traffic from 480,000 to two million.

Speaking to International Airport Review, Dmitry Martynenko, Commercial Director at Air Marakanda, said,

"There has never been anything like this in Uzbekistan before, in terms of services and infrastructure – and not every airport in Central Asia can say the same."

The airport, which served five destinations in 2019, plans to increase its network to 30 destinations by 2030. The number of regular flights at the airport will increase from 40 to 120 per week, with 24 new aircraft parking spaces available.

The design of the airport, which resembles an open book, is based on a manuscript published by the famed astronomer Mirzo Ulugbek, who ruled over Samarkand in the 15th century.

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Inaugural flight HY045

The brand-new terminal has also handled its first passengers with the arrival of Flight HY045 from Tashkent. The flight, operated by national carrier Uzbekistan Airways, departed the Uzbek capital at 15:19 local time and arrived at the new terminal 36 minutes later.

It was an Airbus A320 operated the flight. The aircraft then conducted the return journey, Flight HY46, just over three hours later, arriving back in Tashkent at 19:50.

Will you be visiting the new terminal at Samarkand International Airport? Are you happy to see this investment in Uzbekistan aviation? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.