Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov laid a capsule for the construction of a new airport terminal at Osh International Airport.
The presidential press service reported that this large-scale project is an important step in the development of the aviation infrastructure of southern Kyrgyzstan, The Caspian Post reports, citing Kyrgyz media.
Its capacity will be more than 5 million passengers per year. The new airport terminal will be built on two floors with a basement, and its total area will be 25,443 square meters.
When designing the new terminal, all conditions for comfortable passenger movement were taken into account - a spacious hall, modern check-in areas, a food court, recreation areas, automated parking for 650 spaces and much more.
In addition, the development project envisages expansion of the apron and an increase in the number of aircraft parking spaces by 25 units. In 2025, design and estimate documentation for the runway will be prepared, and in 2026, it is planned to extend it. After the reconstruction is completed, the high-intensity lighting system will be upgraded to category III.
In his speech, the head of state emphasized that today the open joint-stock company "Airports of Kyrgyzstan" has embarked on the path of sustainable development, improving its organizational and management structure.
"The infrastructure of airports in the regions is being updated, the route network is expanding. At the same time, various areas of activity in the aviation industry are developing dynamically. We are witnessing the revival of the aviation industry in Kyrgyzstan," the president noted.
He recalled that the Karakol International Airport and the Talas Airport were previously put into operation. Major repairs of the runways have been carried out at the airports of Jalal-Abad, Karavan, Kazarman and Batken. Reconstruction work is actively underway at the Issyk-Kul International Airport and Naryn Airport, and construction of a new airport will begin in the city of Jalal-Abad. Two Bombardier Dash 8-400 aircraft were purchased for the country's aviation fleet, and this year it will be replenished with two new aircraft.
"Continuing such positive initiatives, today we have gathered to lay a capsule in honor of the start of construction of the new airport complex of the Osh International Airport. This event is of great importance not only for the southern region, but for all of Kyrgyzstan," the head of state said and congratulated all Kyrgyzstanis on the start of such an important project.
The President emphasized that the Osh International Airport ranks second in Kyrgyzstan in terms of passenger traffic and is one of the key transport hubs of the entire Fergana region. This airport provides an important link not only for residents of the southern regions of Kyrgyzstan, but also between the countries of Central Asia, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Middle East and other regions.
"Today, the airport is capable of receiving modern aircraft such as the Airbus A320, Boeing 737 and their analogues. This demonstrates its competitiveness at the international level," said Sadyr Japarov.
"From 2021 to 2024, the number of passengers on domestic and international flights has grown steadily, increasing by 47%. The number of passengers increased from 3.9 million to 5.8 million people. In this regard, the new airport complex, according to the plan, will allow serving up to 900 passengers per hour. Of course, the quality and convenience of the services provided will significantly improve. This project is an important step in the development of the country's aviation infrastructure. Its successful implementation will strengthen the position of the aviation industry of Kyrgyzstan," said Sadyr Japarov, adding that by 2027, the reconstruction of the runways of the Bishkek and Osh airports will be completed to ensure flight safety in all weather conditions.
"At the same time, the construction of the new airport complex is only the beginning of our large-scale plans. We intend to expand the airport's route network, attract new airlines and increase cargo volumes. Moreover, our long-term plan is to turn Osh International Airport into more than just a transport hub. We strive to make it an important economic hub that promotes the development of tourism and business,” President Japarov said.
