On the signing stage in Tashkent, Uzbekistan Airport Company and an international consortium led by Saudi Vision Invest officially signed a new Tashkent International Airport PPP agreement for $2.5 billion, marking the largest single investment in Central Asian aviation history. At almost the same time, eight airport projects in Kazakhstan were advancing in parallel, Kyrgyzstan reached a milestone in its de blacking out, and the countdown to the interior decoration of the new terminal on Lake Issyk Kul began. As the roar of bulldozers spreads from the foot of the Tianshan Mountains to the shores of the Caspian Sea, Central Asia is weaving its own aerial network with unprecedented density.

Uzbekistan Hub Strategy

The new Tashkent International Airport, worth 2.5 billion US dollars, is the largest single investment in the history of Central Asian aviation. The first phase includes two 4-kilometer runways, a 208000 square meter terminal, and 98 stands, increasing the annual passenger throughput capacity to 46 million in the long term. The investment for Bukhara New Airport is 226 million US dollars, the construction of Ulgenchi New Airport is progressing simultaneously, and the expansion of Namangan International Airport with 175 million US dollars is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. In the first half of 2026, the passenger throughput of Uzbekistan airports was 8.153 million, a year-on-year increase of 16%, and the cargo volume was 51546 tons, a year-on-year increase of 33%.

Kazakhstan regional coverage

Kazakhstan will simultaneously promote eight airport infrastructure projects in 2026, including the restoration of Alkarek Airport, the construction of Zhaisan New Airport, the construction of Cartoon Karagai New Airport, the construction of Kendarle New Airport, the second runway of Chimkent Airport, the modernization of Almaty Terminal, the reconstruction of Urzhar, and the upgrade of Pavlodar runway. The passenger terminal of Alkarek New Airport has been basically completed and is scheduled to be completed on July 31st. It can handle 70 passengers per hour and benefit over 80000 residents. Kazakhstan is working with Japan to plan a direct flight route between Astana and Tokyo. Keywords: Central Asia news and information, aviation infrastructure, Central Asia

Kyrgyzstan tourism driven

On June 9, 2026, the European Commission officially removed all certified airlines in Kyrgyzstan from the aviation safety blacklist, marking the international recognition of Kyrgyzstan's aviation safety management system. The renovation of Manas International Airport has been completed by 80% to 90%, with the runway, taxiway, and apron renovation completed by China Road and Bridge Corporation. The interior decoration of the new terminal building at Lake Issyk Kul Airport has begun and is planned to be completed by the end of 2026. The seasonal direct flight from Tashkent to Lake Issyk Kul will open on July 8th. The new command and control tower at Karakol Airport started construction on May 15th and is scheduled to be completed by December 31st. The airport will have the ability to handle international flights 24/7 throughout the year. 

The roof of the new Jalalabad airport terminal has been closed and is expected to be completed in the autumn of 2027. Overall, the construction of airports in Central Asia is shifting from a single hub expansion to a networked layout. Uzbekistan is building a national aviation network with Tashkent as the core, Kazakhstan focuses on regional coverage and east-west connectivity, and Kyrgyzstan is upgrading its tourism economy at multiple points. As the airport networks of the three countries take shape and begin to connect with each other, Central Asia is transforming from an area that needs to be flown over to a destination worth flying to.Editor/Gao Xue