New International Airport in Uzbekistan to Open in Early 2027

Deputy Director of Uzbekistan's Bukhara International Airport Shahboz Khaitov has said that Uzbekistan plans to open a new international airport in Bukhara Region in the first quarter of 2027.

The new aviation complex will be able to handle over 3 million passengers annually, The Caspian Post reports via Uzbek media.

The $226 million project is being implemented through a public-private partnership on a 377.7-hectare site outside the city, as expansion of the current airport within Bukhara is technically impossible.

The airport will feature a 3.3 km runway capable of accommodating all aircraft types, five taxiways, and 20 modern parking stands. The terminal will have a capacity of up to 1,200 passengers per hour.

To ensure accessibility, a new 29 km road connecting the airport to Bukhara-26 km away-is also under construction. Authorities expect a significant increase in passenger traffic by 2030, which the existing airport, currently serving around 1 million passengers annually, will be unable to handle.

Currently, Bukhara International Airport processes about 400 passengers per hour. Most tourists reach the city by rail or road, but passenger numbers are expected to grow to 8 million annually within the next three years.

Construction began in May 2024 and the new airport is considered a key infrastructure project aimed at boosting tourism and improving regional connectivity.