Although the leading indicators of Navoi International Airport grew in 2025 compared to 2024, its capacity for aircraft servicing, passenger, and cargo transportation is not fully utilized.
There is also a need to modernize the airport’s infrastructure, equipment fleet, cargo and passenger terminals, and to digitalize operational processes.
During the presentation, it was proposed to develop Navoi International Airport using project management principles.
The airport will be removed from the centralized operational management system of Uzbekistan Airports JSC and granted the authority to independently negotiate and conclude agreements with local and foreign airlines for passenger and cargo transportation, as well as for transit and technical landings.
Tasks were set to increase the export of aviation services by directing the airport’s revenues toward modernizing its infrastructure, expanding fuel storage capacity, and establishing aircraft repair and painting services.
A business plan for the development of Navoi International Airport was reported. According to the project, indicators for both commercial and non-aviation activities are expected to increase by 50 per cent, regular flights involving more than 25 airlines will be launched, and cargo handling volumes will exceed 20,000 tons.
The task was set to create a “porto-franco” free customs zone on the airport’s territory, specializing in providing technical and commercial services for aircraft.
Special equipment and spare parts imported for aircraft maintenance will be exempt from customs duties until January 1, 2029. A decision was also made to place the hotel on the airport’s premises under airport management.
During the presentation, particular attention was paid to the transformation of civil aviation enterprises.
Information was presented on comprehensive measures to improve enterprise efficiency and ensure financial stability, including reducing costs, using resources more rationally, and outsourcing non-core services.
The need to reduce operating costs by introducing energy-saving technologies and using specialized electric-powered transport was noted.
A decision was made to cease financing the non-core activities of the joint-stock companies Uzbekistan Airways and Uzbekistan Airports starting in 2026. The operations of Uzbekistan Airports will be conducted based on 18 priority tasks, while Uzbekistan Airways will operate under 16 priority tasks.
In particular, priority tasks identified include increasing enterprise competitiveness by improving service quality, introducing optimal methods for calculating the costs of services and products, digitalizing all stages of production processes, and training and professional development for personnel.
As part of the transformation, measures will be implemented to revise organizational structures, optimize staffing levels, improve international credit ratings, launch an IPO, and issue international corporate bonds.
Issues related to fundamentally improving the personnel training system in the aviation industry, including progress on establishing a Civil Aviation University and an affiliated aviation technical college, were also addressed at the meeting.
The educational institutions will be established in cooperation with leading international aviation education centers such as Embry-Riddle (United States) and ENAC (France). In addition to training specialists in practical professions such as flight attendants, aviation technicians, and mechanics, the university will introduce programs for training pilots, engineers, air traffic controllers, and managers, as well as plans to launch scientific programs.
Having approved the proposals, the President issued the relevant instructions to officials.
