At a press conference on February 17 at the Tashkent International Airport, CEO of Uzbekistan Airports, Rano Juraeva summarized the past year and spoke about plans for 2023.
According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), total global passenger traffic by the end of 2022 has recovered by 70% compared to the pre-pandemic 2019. While Uzbekistan’s passenger traffic surpassed the pre-pandemic year by 22%, topping 7.9 million passengers. The growth of passenger traffic in 2022 by 2021 amounted to 46%.
1.7 million passengers were served on domestic flights in 2022, which is by 30% more than in 2019 due to the increase in frequencies and destinations of Uzbekistan Airways. The growth of domestic passenger traffic in 2022 by 2021 amounted to 82%.
Such figures, according to Rano Juraeva, were achieved through a 42% reduction in rates and fees, as well as through an effective commercial policies to attract international airlines, including with the help of Uzbek and foreign diplomats.
In 2023, it is planned to increase passenger traffic to 9.29 million passengers (an increase of 18% by 2022). Such figures are forecasted based on the creation of new resident airlines in Uzbekistan (Panorama Airways, Centrum Air, Air Samarkand, Sayohat Air, Semurg, Silk Avia) and an increase in the fleet of resident airlines by 34 aircraft, as well as ongoing work to attract new 20 foreign airlines.
In 2022, 28 new airlines were attracted to Uzbek airports, and the route network expanded to 73 destinations. In 2022, flights were distributed as follows: 47% - flights to / from the CIS countries, 31% - the countries of the Middle East, 15% - the countries of Asia and 7% - Europe.
In terms of cargo transportation, there is also an increase in figures, Rano Juraeva noted. At the airports of Uzbekistan in 2022, 80.1 thousand tons of cargo and mail were served, which is 62% higher than in 2019.
In 2023, it is planned to increase the volume of cargo to 95.3 thousand tons (an increase of 19% by 2022), including through the completion of the reconstruction of Navoi Airport and the involvement of the international cargo operator G Ports Ground Handling Services Sole Proprietorship in management.
In 2022, Uzbekistan Airports' revenues increased by 44% compared to 2021, and export revenue by 35% due to attracting new airlines and expanding the route network. According to the forecasts of the company's analysts, in 2023, revenues are expected to increase by 32%, export earnings - by 8%.
Tax payments to the budget for 2022 increased by 159% by 2021 and topped 560.7 billion soums. In 2023, it is planned to bring deductions to the budget to 590.8 billion soums. During the past year, 626 new jobs were created in the management company itself and in all its structural divisions.
