On April 15, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, arrived in Andijan region to learn about its development and the living conditions of its population.
The transformations taking place in the region are evident already at the airport – the modernization of the Andijan International Airport is ongoing as part of a large-scale program to develop the country’s transport infrastructure.
The Head of state was briefed on the progress of the project’s implementation.
The airport, built in 1978, no longer met modern standards. Due to the limited load-bearing capacity of the runway, the absence of a modern lighting system, and a lack of other essential infrastructure, the airport had restricted capabilities for receiving flights.
To date, the first phase of the reconstruction has been completed. A new runway measuring 3,300 meters in length and 60 meters in width has been built, along with a taxiway and aircraft parking areas. The drainage system has been upgraded, and underground water issues have been resolved. Construction of a second taxiway is ongoing, as is the installation of modern radar, meteorological, and lighting equipment of the ICAO CAT-II category, in accordance with international standards.
Upon completing these works, the airport will be capable of accommodating large Boeing and Airbus aircraft, including flights during nighttime hours and in adverse weather conditions. This will allow for a tenfold increase in the number of daily flights.
The project’s second phase envisions the construction of a new passenger terminal. The airport’s passenger throughput is expected to rise from 300 to 1,000 passengers per hour and annual flights from 584 to 3,700. This will significantly enhance air connectivity with the city of Andijan and the entire Fergana Valley.
Regular flights are already being operated on the Tashkent – Andijan – Tashkent route.
The President instructed that effective airport management be established, services be made more accessible, and the number of domestic and international flights increased.
Overall, large-scale efforts are underway across the country to modernize airports. In recent years, airports in Samarkand, Termez, Urgench, Shakhrisabz, Muynak, Kokand, and Zaamin have been upgraded. Reconstruction is ongoing in several other regions.
UzA