As the early morning flight slowly lands at Tashkent International Airport, business travelers may not have noticed yet, but a change in the aviation landscape of Uzbekistan is quietly unfolding. In the blueprint of the Uzbekistan 2030 strategic draft, the names of five core airports are solemnly included in the list - a modernization project based on public-private partnerships (PPP), which is breaking the traditional government led infrastructure model and injecting new market-oriented vitality into the aviation network in this Central Asian hinterland.

This is not the first time Uzbekistan has tested aviation infrastructure reform. As early as September 2023, the government proposed to modernize and upgrade low profit regional airports, and implement trust management through the PPP model. At that time, the planning map had already covered six core airports. The latest strategic draft released this time has further clarified the reform path: targeting five major airports, jointly financed by Uzbekistan Airport Company and private partners, and led by transportation authorities to promote the transformation of aviation infrastructure from "government subsidies" to "market-oriented operation" with a steady pace of "transferring at least one airport every year".

Behind this decision is Uzbekistan's precise grasp of the pain points in the development of the aviation industry. For a long time, regional airports have generally faced problems such as outdated facilities, low operational efficiency, and heavy financial burden. The introduction of social capital in the PPP model can precisely solve the dual dilemma of funding and management. The injection of private capital can not only provide sufficient funds for runway expansion, terminal renovation, and intelligent equipment upgrades, but also bring international advanced airport operation experience, comprehensively enhancing the competitiveness of the airport from flight scheduling, passenger services to cargo logistics.

The market's keen sense has already captured the dividends released by this reform. The presence of international operators is densely appearing on the aviation infrastructure track in Uzbekistan. In October 2025, Uzbekistan Airport Company signed a public-private partnership agreement with Incheon International Airport Company in South Korea to finalize the modernization and operation management plan for Ulgenchi Airport, marking a landmark event for foreign investment. At the same time, the reconstruction project of Namangan Airport is in full swing, and the construction of the new Bukhara Airport is steadily advancing - these projects are planned to be incorporated into the private operation system in the future, providing a stage for international capital and local enterprises to cooperate and win.

For Uzbekistan, the modernization of five airports is not a simple upgrade of facilities. As a transportation hub in Central Asia, a well-developed aviation network will further open up interconnectivity channels with the Eurasian continent, attracting more international business travelers and freight logistics to gather here, and giving wings to the development of industries such as trade and tourism. The infrastructure reform driven by the PPP model is more like a barometer, indicating the country's determination to promote market-oriented reforms and embrace global capital.

When the first renovated airport welcomes a brand new flight takeoff and landing, the deafening roar will be the prelude for Uzbekistan's aviation industry to enter a new era.Editor/Bian Wenjun