Samarkand International Airport sees record growth, becoming Europe’s fastest-growing airport in 2024

Caption: Samarkand International Airport has become the fastest growing airport in Europe and Central Asia. Credit: Samarkand International Airport.

Samarkand International Airport (SKD) has been recognised as the fastest-growing airport in Europe and Central Asia, according to official figures from Airports Council International (ACI). In 2024, the airport saw 1.38 million passengers, reflecting a 36.6% growth compared to 2023, twice the rate of the next fastest growing airport, Olbia (+18.4%) in Italy. This growth has positioned SKD as one of the world’s fastest-growing airports, with a 186% increase in passenger traffic over the past five years.

Ulugbek Shamsikulov, CEO of Air Marakanda, the airport’s management company, stated: “Our growth is reward for the visionary investment made in our ultra-modern 21st Century SKD terminal during a challenging global epidemic. These figures underline the pent-up demand for air travel in this historic region and SKD’s position as a fast-emerging centre for tourism and commerce in Central Asia.”

Bakhityor Fazilov, a leading Uzbek entrepreneur and investor, spearheaded the development of the airport through a major public-private partnership with the Government of Uzbekistan. The new terminal, which opened in early 2022, has been a key factor in the airport’s rapid growth.

Mr Fazilov said: “We are now seeing the fruits of that investment, with our airport now becoming one of the world’s fastest growing.”

In 2024, SKD saw over 1.31 million international passengers, with flights to destinations like Abu Dhabi, Istanbul, Jeddah, Moscow, and St. Petersburg. The airport’s route network now includes 3 domestic and 23 international destinations, with new routes such as Xi’an (China) and Sharm el-Sheikh (Egypt) added in 2024.

Mr Shamsikulov concluded: “Air Marakanda will continue to work with our airline partners to further expand our route network, improve customer service, and modernise infrastructure with digital services.”

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