Uzbekistan plans to more than double regional air routes that bypass Tashkent by 2030, according to the draft updated Uzbekistan–2030 development strategy released for public discussion.
Under the proposal, the total number of flights in the country is expected to reach 200,000 by 2030, including 41,000 domestic routes — a 10.8% increase compared to current levels. Despite the overall growth, domestic flights will account for a smaller share of total air traffic, declining from 26.4% to 20.5% as international routes expand more rapidly.
A key focus of the strategy is the expansion of regional flights that do not pass through the capital. The number of such routes is projected to rise more than 2.5 times over five years, from 624 flights in 2026 to 1,560 in 2030. As a result, the share of regional flights bypassing Tashkent is expected to grow from 1.68% to 3.8%.
In the previous version of the strategy approved in September 2023, authorities had planned a fourfold increase in non-capital regional flights, indicating a more moderate approach in the updated draft.
The updated version of the strategy also includes broader reforms in the aviation sector. It was previously reported that Uzbekistan aims to raise the number of private airlines operating in the country to 15 and expand its aircraft fleet to 180 planes.
Earlier, it was reported that Uzbekistan’s aviation sector could gain a competitive edge by adopting AI, with airlines using advanced AI achieving 5–6% higher operating margins. With passenger traffic reaching nearly 180% of pre-pandemic levels and over 13mn passengers in 2025, the country is well positioned to build a fully AI-driven aviation ecosystem.
