Transformation of civil aviation

Recently, large-scale reforms have been implemented in the field of civil aviation in Uzbekistan to liberalize the aviation market, expand the geography of flights, introduce modern management methods into the sphere and bring the quality of passenger service to the level of modern requirements.
There are many events in the annals of independent Uzbekistan that have determined the present and future of the country, as well as the development of the republic's tourism potential. One of these was the creation of a National Airline in 1992. In 2019, Uzbekistan Airports Joint Stock Company was established on the basis of Uzbekistan Airways, according to the Decree of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
Today Uzbekistan Airports acts as a single executive and connecting body of all airports of the republic.  Its main tasks include the implementation of the strategy for the development of domestic air harbors, the implementation of methodological guidance of their activities, the accumulation of financial flows for the implementation of airport infrastructure development projects and the introduction of new ones.
Uzbekistan Airports has done a lot in 2022. Thus, according to the ICAO, the total global passenger traffic by the end of 2022 has recovered by 70 percent compared to 2019. In turn, Uzbekistan exceeded the pre-pandemic year by 22 percent: traffic amounted to 7.9 million passengers (an increase of 46 percent compared to 2021). In 2022, 1.7 million passengers were served on domestic flights, which is 30 percent more than in 2019 due to the increase in frequencies and routes of Uzbekistan Airways. The growth of domestic passenger traffic in 2022 compared to 2021 was 82 percent.
These indicators were achieved by reducing rates and fees by 42 percent, as well as through an effective commercial policy to attract international airlines, including through working with diplomatic missions of Uzbekistan abroad and representatives of embassies of foreign countries in our country. A special contribution was made by the International Tourism Conference Discovering Uzbekistan organized by Uzbekistan Airports.
In 2023, it is planned to increase passenger traffic to 9.29 million passengers. Such indicators are expected based on the creation of new resident airlines (Panorama Airways, Centrum Air, Air Samarkand, Sayohat Air, Semurg, Silk Avia) and an increase in the fleet of aircraft by 34 aircraft, as well as as a result of ongoing work to attract 20 new foreign air carriers.
 
In 2022, 28 new airlines were attracted to Uzbekistan's airports, and the route network expanded to 73 destinations. Flights were made to/from CIS countries (47 percent), the Middle East (31), Asian countries (15) and Europe (7).
In terms of cargo transportation, there is also an increase in indicators. Last year, 80.1 thousand tons of cargo and mail were served at the airports of Uzbekistan, which is 62 percent higher than in 2019. This year, it is planned to increase the volume of cargo to 95.3 thousand tons (an increase of 19 percent by 2022), including due to the completion of the reconstruction of the Navoi airport and the involvement of the international cargo operator G Ports Ground Handling Services Sole Proprietorship LLC (a structural division of Terminals Holding Sole Proprietorship LLC).
In 2022, revenues of Uzbekistan Airports increased by 44 percent compared to 2021, and export revenue - by 35 due to the attraction of new airlines and the expansion of the route network.
According to the forecasts of the company's analysts, in 2023, revenue is expected to increase by 32 percent, export revenue - by eight. Tax deductions to the budget for 2022 amounted to 560.7 billion soums (increased by 159 percent compared to 2021). This year, it is planned to increase the deductions to the budget to 590.8 billion soums.
During the past year, 626 jobs were created in the management company itself and in all its structural divisions.
Uzbekistan Airports is gradually updating the outdated fleet of special equipment at airports. In 2021, 48 units were purchased for $ 5.2 million, in 2022 - 112 units for $ 14.5 million.
The need to upgrade special equipment at airports for 2023 is 199 units worth $ 42.7 million. 2115.1 billion soums were financed for the modernization of airports, the development of information technologies and the creation of a regional carrier based on the low-cost model in 2021 and 2022. In 2023, investments for 2394.8 billion soums are planned.
Given the rapidly growing passenger traffic at Uzbekistan's airports, it is necessary to gradually expand the terminal complex by optimizing and reconstructing existing areas and building new ones. As of today, several blocks of the departure terminal have been put into operation. An aviation security screening zone has been built with a total area of 935 sq. m. Nine screening corridors allow up to 2,400 passengers to pass through during rush hour. There are also scanners for containers with liquid, clothes and shoes CEIA (Italy), to detect flammable and explosive substances, metal objects without having to take off shoes or open bottles. The hall is also equipped with X-ray television equipment Smiths Detection (Germany) for the inspection of hand luggage and oversized luggage. To ensure increased security measures, ProVision 2 bodiscanners from Leidos (USA) have been installed, allowing for quick and contactless inspection of passengers.
The left part of the sterile zone of the capital's airport with an area of 2640 sq. m. has also been reconstructed. Another Duty Free and Art Bazaar shopping pavilion have been opened on the new territory, where Hunarmand products are presented, as well as points of sale of national gastronomy, gadgets and international SIM cards, jewelry, baby food, sweets, pharmacy and cafe-bar. The first coworking corner with the possibility of charging electronic devices has also been organized, which is planned to be placed in different locations of the terminal.
By the end of March, another block in the sterile zone will be commissioned, which will include a capsule hotel, bathrooms, rooms for ablution and prayer, as well as Anjir business hall. This is a completely new construction that will expand the airport complex by another 875 sq. m, which will create comfortable conditions for international and transfer passengers. By this time, it is planned to improve the territory in front of the arrival terminal of the Tashkent International Airport named after Islam Karimov. Two meeting areas will be erected with a total area of about 1400 sq. m. m - one instead of the existing canopy, the other - in the parking lot P2 between departure and arrival.
It is important to note that a team of domestic and foreign specialists is working on the reconstruction project of the Tashkent airport, taking into account industry and seismological construction standards. During the modernization, all engineering networks in the airport complex were replaced: electricity and water supply, heating, sewerage, ventilation and air conditioning.
Work is also underway to modernize the airfield complex of the capital's airport: the reconstruction of the second runway and the installation of modern lighting equipment is being completed. The repair of taxiways RD-1, RD-2A and parking B6 has been completed. The design of 35 parking areas for aircraft continues.
Moreover, since January 2023, the airports of Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Ferghana and Urgench have hosted the grand opening of Tax Free counters installed by the Tax Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan and started their work in test mode.
The Tax Free system implies the return to foreign citizens of VAT amounts paid by them when purchasing certain types of goods from entrepreneurs engaged in retail trade in Uzbekistan. These are souvenirs, nuts, fruits and dried fruits, leather and fur products, carpets, textiles and more.
The dynamic striving forward and progress of Uzbekistan's civil aviation are demonstrated by its grandiose plans, for the implementation of which a strategy for the development of the country's airports until 2035 has been developed. And this is only part of the tasks that can bring the sphere to a qualitatively new level, ensuring its status and image on the world air transportation arena.