BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 30. Uzbekistan’s
air cargo volumes increased 33% in the first half of 2026,
strengthening the country’s position as one of Central Asia’s
fastest-growing air freight markets, Jamoliddin Nazarov, head of
the Air Transport Department at Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Transport
said today at the 3rd Central Asia Air Cargo Summit in Tashkent.
This was reflected in the statement by the Ministry of Transport
of Uzbekistan.
Speaking at the Central Asia Air Cargo III international
aviation summit in Tashkent, Jamoliddin Nazarov, head of the
ministry’s Air Transport Department, said the country handled
98,000 tons of cargo in 2025, following a 182% increase in air
freight volumes between 2019 and 2024.
“Uzbekistan is open to international air cargo market
participants and offers new opportunities for the development of
the sector,” Nazarov said.
The country’s geographic location, open skies policy and ongoing
aviation reforms are creating opportunities for Uzbekistan to
develop into a regional air cargo hub, he said.
Uzbekistan is implementing projects to develop a cargo hub at
Navoi International Airport, build new cargo terminals and attract
international airlines to the market.
The government has set a target to increase annual air cargo
volumes to 300,000 tons by 2036, alongside plans to expand airport
infrastructure, strengthen logistics capabilities and introduce
international standards across the sector.
The development of air freight is expected to strengthen
Uzbekistan’s connections with international markets and support the
country’s broader ambitions to become a regional transportation and
logistics hub.
