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Air Cargo Notes | 22 May 2025

Marketing Team

Welcome to this week's edition of Uzbekistan Air Cargo Notes, the first and only newsletter focusing on the latest news and insights into the dynamic air cargo market of Uzbekistan and Central Asia. This week, we are reporting on SCAT Airlines connecting Kazakhstan and South Korea, Bishkek Airport updating its IATA code and more.

Air Cargo Trends

SCAT Airlines connects Kazakhstan and South Korea

  • SCAT Airlines, Kazakhstan's national airline has launched direct passenger flights ex Shymkent, Kazakhstan to Incheon, South Korea VV on 29 May 2025

  • The airline will operate flights twice a week using Boeing 737 MAX 8 and Boeing 737-800 aircrafts

Significant investments are set to reshape Almaty International Airport

  • Turkish company TAV Holding will invest 362 million US dollars to improve Almaty International Airport in Kazakhstan including runway upgrades, cargo facilities, and a new hotel from 2025 to 2029

  • The project will create 600 new jobs, raise salaries by 25 % and increase capacity to 36 million passengers by 2050

New air corridor connects Kyrgyzstan and China

  • The new air silk road route will connect Central Asia and Western China after Kyrgyzstan and China agreed to open a second air corridor to Kashgar, China in April 2025

  • The project aims to ease congestion in existing air corridors, enhance logistics efficiency, and strengthen trade, tourism, and international aviation integration

UAE company to invest in Kazakhstan's airport development

  • UAE-based Terminals Holding will invest 1.1 billion US dollars to expand Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport in Kazakhstan, with a new runway, terminals, and an Aerotropolis complex under a 25-year agreement

  • The project also includes upgrading ground service equipment, implementing digital and automation systems, and providing certified international-standard training for airport staff

Bishkek airport to update its IATA code

  • Kyrgyzstan's Manas International Airport will change its IATA code from FRU to BSZ to reflect the city’s current name on 9 August 2025

  • The update marks a symbolic break from the Soviet-era name Frunze and follows IATA Resolution 763

Qanot Sharq expands its widebody capacity

  • Uzbekistan’s Qanot Sharq restored two A330-200s aircrafts from Uzbekistan Airways wet lease, resuming operations ex Tashkent to Seoul direct passenger flight on 19 May 2025

  • Now operating three A330s equipments, the airline plans new routes to China and South Korea, while also considering future A350 acquisitions

New international airport will be built in Kyrgyzstan

  • The new Jalal-Abad International Airport will cover 381 hectares and include a two-storey passenger terminal with a capacity of over 350 passengers per hour

  • The airport will meet ICAO 4E standards with a 3,800-meter runway, enabling it to handle both passenger and cargo aircraft, including Boeing 767 and Airbus A330

Singapore considers direct passenger flights to Uzbekistan

  • Singapore’s Changi Airport showed strong interest in launching direct passenger flights to Tashkent to boost tourism and connectivity

  • Both sides agreed to cooperate on logistics, marketing, and regulatory steps needed to start the new route

Somon Air targets german route expansion

  • Somon Air Tajikistan's airline has entered a cooperation agreement with Frankfurt-Hahn Airport in Germany  to strengthen passenger and cargo connectivity

  • The move aligns with the airline’s broader strategy to grow its international network beyond Munich, Germany

Find out More:

 Air Freight

  AOG Logistics Support in Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Thank you for reading! We'll get back to you next Thursday with another edition of Uzbekistan Air Cargo Notes. If you missed a newsletter, check out the other editions of our newsletter

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