IATA opens an office in Uzbekistan

Officials of the sector, specialists, and international partners took part in the event held on this occasion.

Speaking at the event, the Deputy Minister of Transport of the Republic of Uzbekistan Jasurbek Choriyev, the Regional Vice President of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for Europe Rafael Schvartzman, and others noted the importance of cooperation in developing the sector.

It was emphasized that Uzbekistan, by effectively leveraging its geographic location, can become an important regional aviation hub, providing air connectivity to neighboring countries as well as to states in Asia, the Caucasus, and Europe.

According to IATA forecasts, RPK growth in Uzbekistan is expected to reach 3.3 percent over the period 2024-2050. To realize this potential, compliance with international standards is key. One of the main instruments in this direction is the implementation of the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), which will help increase confidence in the activities of the country’s airlines.

According to Mr. Choriyev, this event marks an important milestone not only for Uzbekistan but also for the entire region.

“Now we can expand cooperation with IATA”, he noted. “At the same time, key aspects include ensuring safety and conducting financial operations, which are crucial for the stable operation of airlines and for strengthening trust. The opening of the office reflects Uzbekistan’s status as a new aviation market. This opportunity will benefit not only our country but also neighboring states, where the aviation market is developing rapidly”.

Regional Vice President of IATA for Europe Rafael Schvartzman reported that the launch of the Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) system in Uzbekistan is planned for the end of the current year.

“Uzbekistan is a growing market that is taking a leading position in Central Asia for passenger and cargo traffic”, he said. “The IATA office and BSP in Uzbekistan will provide strategic support to grow air travel through boosting aviation safety and operational efficiency. With the opening of our office, IATA experts will be more available to assist airlines and airports in implementing global standards in safety and operations. Importantly, the BSP will give access to airlines to cost-effectively process financial transactions globally while enabling global product distribution”. 

As part of the event, a press conference was also held for representatives of the mass media.

Nasiba Ziyodullayeva, UzA