President Mirziyoyev reviews progress at Andijan International Airport

Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived in Andijan on April 15, 2025, as part of a visit aimed at assessing regional development and improving citizens’ quality of life. The presidential press service reported that during his visit, Mirziyoyev reviewed the modernization progress of Andijan International Airport.

The airport, initially built in 1978, was outdated and unable to meet current aviation standards. The runway had limited load-bearing capacity and lacked modern lighting systems, restricting flight operations during adverse weather conditions and nighttime hours.

The first phase of reconstruction has now been completed. The upgrades included:

• A new runway measuring 3,300 meters in length and 60 meters in width.
• A taxiway and parking areas for aircraft.
• Installation of a drainage system to manage underground water.

Currently, work is ongoing to build a second taxiway and install ICAO CAT-II compliant radar, meteorology, and lighting equipment.

Once the modernization is complete, the airport will be able to accommodate larger aircraft, including Boeing and Airbus models, and handle operations during challenging weather conditions and nighttime hours. These enhancements will increase the daily flight capacity tenfold.

The second phase of modernization will involve constructing a new passenger terminal. This will expand the airport’s capacity from handling 300 passengers per hour to 1,000 passengers. Flight frequency will also increase from 584 flights annually to 3,700 flights, enabling more connections to Andijan city and the Fergana Valley region.

Currently, the airport is operating flights between Tashkent and Andijan.

President Mirziyoyev emphasized the importance of efficient management and affordable services to increase both domestic and international flights. He also highlighted Uzbekistan’s broader efforts to modernize airports, including those in Samarkand, Termez, Urgench, Shahrisabz, Muynak, Kokand, and Zomin, with ongoing projects in other regions.

Andijan Airport had been closed for reconstruction since April 1, 2023, due to its deteriorating runway and facilities. On March 15, 2025, the first phase of reconstruction was completed, and the new runway was inaugurated. On March 20, the airport welcomed its first passenger flight, US601, carrying 63 passengers. The flight landed at 12:13 PM Tashkent time and was greeted traditionally with a water salute and ceremonial music.