August 20, 14:20Gazeta.uz

Large-scale reconstruction of Andijan International Airport is underway without private investors' participation

Andijan International Airport is undergoing a large-scale reconstruction process, which the airport director Sohibjon Kenjaev described as a 'de facto rebirth.' This project was presented to journalists on August 17th.

Previously, the airport reopened after two years of reconstruction of the airfield complex last year. Currently, a new passenger terminal is being built, designed with future expansion in mind. As noted earlier, the airport is intended to become a key backup point for the Fergana Valley to avoid diverting flights to Tashkent under unfavorable weather conditions.

A distinguishing feature of this project is that Uzbekistan Airports is carrying out the reconstruction independently, unlike projects in Samarkand, Urgench, Bukhara, and Namangan, where private investors were involved through the public-private partnership (PPP) mechanism.

The 50-year-old building of the old terminal is being preserved, although it will eventually be demolished; however, its large panel featuring sunbursts shaped like airplanes on the facade is planned to be kept.

Project Implementation Details

Prime Tower Group is designing the terminal, having previously worked on the Samarkand airport project. The general contractor is the local construction company Marin Business Trade, which has experience building congress halls in Namangan and shopping centers. The parties signed a contract for construction and installation works on February 5th following a tender involving about six major companies. The preliminary cost estimate for the project is 335 billion soms, although the final amount may change due to ongoing design work running parallel to construction.

Sohibjon Kenjaev explained that under the PPP scheme, most of the profit goes to the partner for 15–20 years for payback, whereas in this case, the revenue remains with the company and is directed towards modernizing other regional airports, demonstrating the ability to build an airport with one's own resources.

Significance of the New Airport for Andijan

Andijan region is one of the most densely populated regions in Uzbekistan, home to over 3.5 million people. Located in the eastern part of the Fergana Valley and bordering Kyrgyzstan, the region has significant potential for developing aviation and international transport links.

The capabilities of the air terminal complex, operational since 1979, limited the growth of transport volumes. Initially, the old terminal covered 2402 sq. m, with a capacity of 200 passengers per hour; additional departure and arrival halls were added in 1995–1996. According to Sohibjon Kenjaev, an administrative building will be constructed on the site of the old terminal.

The fate of the panel inside the old building has not yet been determined, but the creation of a museum space in the new terminal is possible. Although the panel does not have the status of a cultural heritage object, the airport management, together with specialists from the Agency for Cultural Heritage, is working to include it in the national register.

New Terminal Characteristics

The new terminal will cover an area of 19,650 sq. m, approximately eight times larger than the existing building, and is designed to handle 1000 passengers per hour, five times more than the current capacity. The first floor will feature 14 check-in desks and 2 self-check-in and baggage drop counters, similar to Tashkent Airport. It will also house the domestic departure hall, a CIP lounge, and the international arrival hall.

On the second floor, where the international departure hall is located, two escalators and two elevators will be installed. The layout is designed so that passengers can navigate easily and not feel confined, as all areas will be open and equipped with glass curtain walls allowing views of the street even during security checks. Co-working spaces with free Wi-Fi will be organized in waiting areas, and outlets and USB ports will be available near the seats.

The terminal's design will incorporate references to Zakhariddin Muhammad Babur, a native of Andijan and founder of the Baburids dynasty. Kobiljon Abdunazarov, the first deputy director of the airport, emphasized that, unlike many closed airports, all zones here are open.

The project also includes the construction of a new control tower building for the

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nuz.uzAugust 20, 19:49

New terminal is being built in Andijan, which will allow passenger traffic to increase to 1 million people per year

A new passenger terminal is under construction at the Andijan International Airport, intended to significantly increase the airport's capacity—from the current 200 to 1000 passengers per hour. Construction is planned to be completed by the end of 2026. This information was announced during a press tour of the site.

The new complex is part of an extensive airport modernization program. The future terminal will cover an area of 19,650 square meters, nearly eight times larger than the existing building, which was constructed in 1979. After commissioning, the new complex will enable the airport to handle over 1 million passengers annually.

Abdulnazarov Kobiljon Kharamovich, First Deputy Director of Andijan International Airport, emphasized that the main goal of creating the new terminal is to ensure comfortable conditions for all passengers and provide the airport with opportunities for further development. The new building includes separate zones and entrances for different passenger groups, including persons with disabilities and VIP clients. Additionally, special areas will be organized for those who see off or meet arriving passengers.

The international hall will occupy over 6,000 square meters. One of the most important elements of the terminal will be three jet bridges, which will significantly speed up boarding and disembarking processes, especially when handling wide-body aircraft. Abdulnazarov noted that speed of ground handling is critically important for airlines, as less time spent on the ground leads to greater flight efficiency.

The need for airport expansion is driven by the growing number of passengers. In 2025, after the airport opened on March 24, more than 94 thousand passengers were registered. In the first seven months of 2026, this figure reached 127 thousand people. By the end of the current year, the airport forecasts exceeding 200 thousand passengers, and after the full launch of the new terminal, reaching over 1 million passengers per year.

Currently, international flights operate from Andijan to Jeddah, Medina, Novosibirsk, Moscow, and Istanbul, as well as almost daily domestic flights to Tashkent. Kenjaev Sohibjon Abdukhalilovich, Director of Andijan International Airport, reported that international destinations are currently served approximately 8–9 times a week, while this figure is planned to increase to 60 weekly flights after the completion of the terminal construction.

The airport intends to expand its existing route network, paying special attention to destinations such as Turkey and China. Increased flight frequency to Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, and Kazan is planned for Russian destinations. Negotiations with airlines regarding the launch of new flights are also underway. To attract foreign carriers, the airport must comply with international standards, so an audit assessing safety, passenger and baggage service quality, and border and screening control operations is conducted before launching new routes. The design of the new terminal takes these requirements into account.

The modernization also affected the airfield section. The runway was extended from 2,985 to 3,300 meters, and its width was increased from 45 to 60 meters. The runway received concrete paving, which, with proper maintenance, can last for over 30 years. The number of aircraft parking spots has also increased: instead of six aircraft, the future airport will be able to accommodate up to 10 simultaneously.

These changes have already allowed the airport to accommodate larger aircraft. On July 3, Andijan first received a regular Airbus A330 flight from Flyadeal airline on the Medina—Andijan route, carrying 354 passengers. On August 4, the airport first received a full cargo flight Boeing 747-400F from Challenge Air Cargo. Abdulnazarov noted that previously similar aircraft could only make technical landings for refueling, but a full cargo flight with cargo was accepted specifically in Andijan.

Although the new passenger terminal is exclusively for passenger transport, a separate cargo terminal is planned to be built there in the future. As of August 14, the readiness of the new passenger terminal reached approximately 40%. Work on the drainage system, foundation preparation, foundation concreting, and installation of the plinth concrete have been completed. The structure assembly covered 13,104 square meters, and the installation of roofing profiles is fully complete. Currently, work is underway to install connecting metal structures, intermediate beams, and facade guides.

The project is being implemented by Uzbekistan Airports without the participation of private investors under a public-private partnership scheme. The contract for construction and installation works was signed on February 5, 2026. The general contractor is MARIN BUSINESS TRADE LLC, and the general designer is PRIME TOWER GROUP LLC. Furthermore, the reconstruction includes preserving the historical heritage of the airport: mosaics and other valuable elements of the old building will be preserved and moved to the new terminal, where a museum dedicated to the history of Andijan Airport will be created. After the demolition of the old building, an administrative building for staff, as well as a facility for military and relevant services, is planned to be located on its site.

Thus, the modernization aims to eliminate current infrastructure limitations and create a basis for the further growth of air transport. The airport strives to increase the number of flights, attract new international partners, expand its global route network, and develop cargo transportation in the future. For Andijan, this means transforming from an airport with limited capacity into a significant transport hub of the Fergana Valley.