Uzbekistan plans to increase the number of private airlines operating in the country to 15 and expand its aircraft fleet to 180 planes, according to an improved draft of the Uzbekistan-2030 strategy released for public discussion.
The updated strategy envisages the modernization of five major airports under public-private partnership arrangements. Under the plan, one airport will be modernized and transferred to PPP-based management each year until 2030.
The projects will be financed jointly by Uzbekistan Airports and private partners, with the Ministry of Transport responsible for implementation.
The revised draft was prepared following President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s instruction to review the Uzbekistan-2030 strategy during his address on December 26, 2025. The update reflects recent changes and results achieved in the aviation and transport sectors.
The earlier version of the strategy already envisioned the modernization of underperforming regional airports and their transfer to trusted management under public-private partnership arrangements.
As part of this approach, Uzbekistan Airports signed a PPP agreement in October 2025 with South Korea’s Incheon International Airport Corporation for the modernization and management of Urgench Airport.
Under the agreement, the private partner is responsible for the construction and management of passenger and cargo terminals, including ground handling services. The public partner oversees the construction and management of core airport infrastructure, including the runway and apron.
