Samarkand International Airport has achieved remarkable success, earning the title of the fastest-growing airport in the Europe and Central Asia region. This is according to Airports Council International (ACI) data.
The impressive growth highlights the airport’s pivotal role in connecting Uzbekistan to the world and driving economic development in the region.
Explosive Growth Exceeds Trends
With a staggering 36.6% increase in passenger traffic in 2024, reaching 1.38 million passengers, Samarkand’s growth far outpaces other airports.
To put this in perspective, the second fastest-growing airport, Olbia in Sardinia, saw only an 18.4% increase. Samarkand’s performance is even more striking when considering the broader context.
While European and Central Asian airports collectively surpassed pre-pandemic levels in 2024, Samarkand experienced an astounding 186% growth compared to 2019. This has cemented its position as a global leader in airport expansion.
Airport Terminal Investment
Ulugbek Shamsikulov, CEO of Air Marakanda, the airport management company, attributes this success to forward-thinking investment in the airport’s state-of-the-art terminal.
“Our growth is a reward for the visionary investment made in our ultra-modern 21st-century Samarkand airport terminal during a challenging global epidemic,” Shamsikulov explained.
“These figures underline the pent-up demand for air travel in this historic region and Samarkand’s position as a fast-emerging center for tourism and commerce in Central Asia.”
This ambitious project was spearheaded by Bakhityor Fazilov, a prominent Uzbek entrepreneur and investor, in a groundbreaking public-private partnership with the Uzbek government. The futuristic terminal, which opened in early 2022, has been breaking records ever since.
A Catalyst for Regional Development
Fazilov emphasized the strategic vision behind the airport’s development. “At the turn of this decade and together with our government, we had a vision to develop tourism in Samarkand,” he stated.
“We have married new infrastructure and facilities – like our airport and the Silk Road Samarkand tourist center – with the unique historic and traditional features of this city. We are now seeing the fruits of that investment, with our airport now becoming one of the world’s fastest growing.”
He also commended Air Marakanda’s commitment to customer service excellence, which he believes will sustain the airport’s growth trajectory.
“We are delivering economic benefits for our historic home city, for this fast-developing region and for our country of Uzbekistan, and there is much more to come,” Fazilov added.
International Connections Drive Growth
The 2024 growth was fueled by international travel, with over 1.31 million international passengers. Popular destinations include Abu Dhabi, Istanbul, Jeddah, Moscow, and St. Petersburg. The number of take-off and landing operations also surged by 23%, reaching 11,000.
Samarkand International Airport has significantly expanded its route network, now connecting to three domestic and 23 international destinations.
Recent additions include Xi’an (China), Sharm el-Sheikh (Egypt), Turkestan (Kazakhstan), and several cities in Russia.
Looking Ahead
Shamsikulov outlined Air Marakanda’s future plans. “Air Marakanda will continue to work with our airline partners to further expand our route network, to improve the quality of service for all customers.”
“We will modernize our infrastructure with the introduction of digital services to simplify passenger interactions.”
Air Marakanda, the ground handling and management operator of the new terminal, has received numerous accolades, including recognition at the World Airport Awards and the BLUESKY Aviation Awards 2024.
Samarkand International Airport’s remarkable growth story lies in strategic investment, sound leadership, and a focus on customer service. 2024 saw the airport solidifying its place as a leading aviation hub in Central Asia.
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