Samarkand International Airport is the first airport in the modernhistory of Uzbekistan.[7] The initial facilities for the airport were constructed in 1967, including arunway, a smallterminal, and basicinfrastructure.[8] In its early years, the airport mostly operated domesticcharter flights, until the first scheduled flights began in the1980s.[9] The nationalairlineUzbekistan Airways started operating flights to the airport after its establishment in 1992, contributing to an increase in passenger traffic.
A new passenger terminal was built in 2009, taxiways were reconstructed, a new air traffic control building was constructed, and modern aeronautical navigation equipment was installed.
Domestic departures zoneSamarkand International Airport interiorEntrance from airfield
On November 27, 2018, UzbekPresidentShavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree aimed at improving and modernizing the country's civil aviation sector. In 2020, a comprehensive renovation and construction of a new terminal began.[10] The UzbekUzbekistan EPC company Enter Engineering carried out the project based on a design by theTurkish design firmKiklop Construction.[11] The new terminal officially opened on March 18, 2022.[12]
To enhance Uzbekistan’s tourism potential, fully utilize the capabilities of Samarkand International Airport, and foster competition in the aviation market, anopen skies regime was introduced at Samarkand International Airport on October 1, 2022.[13]
In 2022, nine new airlines, including five foreign carriers, began operating flights to Samarkand. Among them were Jazeera Airways, Pobeda, Panorama Airways, China Southern, Silk Avia, Humo Air, Centrum Air, SunExpress, and UVT Aero.[14]
In 2023, the airport served 1.01 million passengers.[15] It is one of the busiest airports in Uzbekistan.[16] International flights accounted for 918,500 passengers (a 106.4% increase), while domestic routes handled 92,300 passengers (91.2% growth). The most popular regional destination was Tashkent.
In 2024, Samarkand International Airport set a new record with over 1.38 million passengers, up 37% from 2023. Growth was driven by international routes, which saw a 43% increase and over 1.31 million passengers. New routes launched in 2024 included Xi’an (China), Sharm El-Sheikh (Egypt), Turkistan (Kazakhstan), and Tyumen, Nizhny Novgorod, Irkutsk (Russia).[17]
The new terminal was officially inaugurated on March 18, 2022, with the first flight being HY-045/046 fromTashkent. Weekly flights increased from 40 to approximately 120. During the renovation, 24 new parking stands for all types ofaircraft were constructed, along with eightgates. Additionally, 29 check-in desks, 10 passport control counters, and six e-gates were added for departingpassengers.[11]
With a total area of 41,216m2, the terminal’s capacity expanded from handling 300 to 1,000 passengers per hour, with annual passenger volume expected to grow from 460,000 to 2 million. The design resembles an open book, inspired by theastronomerUlugh Beg.[18] The roof is designed to resemble a star chart.
The airport complex offers all types of services in line, including VIP and CIP lounges, a mother and child room, a medical station, ticket counters, post offices, domestic and international telephone communication, bars, restaurants, a currency exchange booth, and a Duty-Free shop.[19]
On August, 2022, Samarkand Airport became the first in Uzbekistan to introduceeGates. The system enables automated passport control, featuring document scanners and high-resolution cameras.[20]
In 2024, Samarkand International Airport has introduced several improvements: a call button for passengers with disabilities to request assistance, free baggage scales in the terminal, and expanded services including cafés, pastry shops, and retail stores.[21]
The airport has a single asphalt-concrete runway with dimensions of 3100x60 meters (runway 09/27). After a general reconstruction, the airport is certified under ICAO Category 1 and can accommodate all types of aircraft, including the Il-62, Il-86, Tu-154, Airbus A310, Airbus A320, Boeing 737, Boeing 757, and Boeing 767.[22]
South of the terminal, there is a hotel. Additionally, there is a connection to the M37 highway, which runs north of the airport.
The forecourt area refers to the transport lines closest to the terminals, designated as part of the aviation security zone. Entry to this area is permitted only for public transport and taxis for passenger pickup. Access to the forecourt area exceeding the 15-minute limit is subject to a fee.
Daily from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM, buses No. 52, 31, and M1 run from the central bus station and the Samarkand railway station to the airport. The travel time is approximately 15 minutes. The airport bus stop is located in front of the passenger terminal building, near the entrance and exit of the terminal.[60]
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