By Rehan Khan
TASHKENT, Jan 17 (APP): The managing company of Uzbekistan airports has reported remarkable achievements for the year 2024, with significant growth recorded across all key performance indicators.
According to the statistics, issued by the Uzbek Civil Aviation Agency, by the end of 2024, the international airports of Uzbekistan collectively handled 113,622 flights, marking a 33% increase compared to the previous year. Of these, 80,213 flights catered to international destinations, while 33,409 flights operated domestically.
Passenger traffic surged to an unprecedented 13.5 million, a 30% jump from the 10.4 million passengers recorded in 2023. Out of the total, 2.48 million passengers traveled on domestic routes, and 11.02 million flew internationally.
Resident airlines carried out 73,969 flights during the year, transporting 8.7 million passengers. Foreign airlines contributed significantly as well, operating 39,653 flights and serving 4.76 million passengers.
Cargo operations also witnessed substantial growth, with Uzbekistan’s airports handling 87,461 tons of freight and mail, a 23% increase compared to 2023.
Highlighting its growing international appeal, Uzbekistan welcomed nine new passenger airlines in 2024, including World2Fly and IberoJet (Spain), WizzAir (Hungary), Batik Air (Malaysia), LOT Polish Airlines (Poland), Qatar Airways (Qatar), Ajet (Turkey), TezJet (Kyrgyzstan), and FlyAdeal (UAE). This expansion has underscored the country’s rising status as a global tourist destination and the strengthening of its international aviation network.
The year 2024 has been hailed as a milestone for Uzbekistan’s aviation industry, showcasing its steady growth and development, further enhancing the country’s connectivity with the rest of the world.