Large-scale work on modernizing airports is being carried out in the country. This year, the airports of Shakhrisabz, Kokand, and Zaamin went into operation, and modernization of air harbors began in Namangan and Andijan.

Involving the private sector in airport management is also yielding results. In particular, after the transfer of the Samarkand International Airport to private management and its modernization, the number of flights and passenger traffic increased 5 times.

There is also such potential in Bukhara. However, the current airport does not meet the requirements of the population and tourists. It can serve only 400 passengers per hour or 1 million passengers per year.

Outdated flight control and passenger service systems and waiting rooms limit the possibility of increasing the number of flights. Most tourists are forced to fly to Tashkent, Samarkand, or Urgench to get to Bukhara. For example, 95 percent of the more than 1 million foreign tourists who visited Bukhara over 9 months arrived by train or car.

The region is developing a hotel network and pilgrimage tourism. In the next three years, it is planned to increase the flow of tourists to Bukhara to 8 million.

In this regard, on May 31 this year, during the President’s visit to the region, the construction of a new international airport began in the Bukhara district. Within the framework of this project, an infrastructure that meets international standards will be created through a public-private partnership. It will be possible to serve 1.2 thousand passengers per hour. Due to the improved quality of service for passengers and aircraft, new international airlines will be attracted.

At the presentation, information was provided on the technical and economic aspects of the project.

The Head of state emphasized the need to double the capacity of the new airport and create the ability to receive and send 8 aircraft per hour. Recommendations were given on improving conditions in the terminal, its interior, and its exterior appearance.