Uzbekistan looking for an investor for another airport

?? In an attempt to replicate a success story of Samarkand Airport, Uzbekistan is planning to let another airport into private hands.

The government of the Central Asian republic, together with Uzbekistan Airports, the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Economy and Finance, plans to implement a public-private partnership (PPP) project to modernize and manage Urgench International Airport (UGC).

Uzbekistan Airports, the state-run operator of country’s airports, has announced the first stage of the tender (Request for Qualification) for implementation of the project "Modernization and Management of Urgench International Airport" using the Build, Operate, Transfer (BOT) model.

The tender was announced following a completion of an overhaul work of Urgench's runway. The runway surface was replaced and reinforced along its entire length of 3,000 meters and width of 45 meters, and the second and third taxiways were overhauled, allowing for unrestricted operations of widebody types such as Boeing 787 and Airbus A330.

Currently, eight airlines operate scheduled service into Urgench and about 40 - charter flights, Uzbekistan Airports said.

In 2023, the airport served 590,000 passengers, and this year passenger traffic is expected to increase by 17%.

According to Uzbekistan Airports' preliminary estimates, passenger traffic will grow at an average annual rate of 7.5% during the PPP period.

As part of Uzbeki aviation's first public-private partnership project, Air Marakanda built and is been managing a new terminal at Samarkand Airport since 2022.

In 2023 Samarkand exceeded the mark of 1 million travelers served for the first time in its history, with traffic growing by more than 100% during the year. It was among the ACI Europe’s Top 3 fastest growing European airports in its category.

So far this year, the growth rate remains at an impressive 47%.
Image: Uzbekistan Airports

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Changing airports to shorten Qanot Sharq's Moscow flights
?? Starting from August 5, Uzbekistan's privately-run airline Qanot Sharq will move its Moscow flights from Vnukovo Airport (VKO) to Domodedovo Airport (DME). This change will reduce the flight time from Tashkent to the Russian capital by 10-15 minutes.

Also, according to some sources, Domodedovo, which has recently been losing traffic, offered Qanot Sharq more favorable service conditions. Domodedovo ranked third among Moscow airports in terms of passenger traffic in June, behind Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo.

The state-owned Uzbekistan Airways flies to Moscow to both Vnukovo and Domodedovo. Among Russian carriers, Pobeda and UTair fly from Vnukovo to Tashkent, Aeroflot flies from Sheremetyevo, and Ural Airlines flies from Zhukovsky.

Qanot Sharq considers launching new destinations out of Moscow after moving to DME.

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Авиавласти Казахстана усиливают меры по безопасности полетов малой авиации после катастрофы Ан-2

?? На следующий день после авиационного происшествия с самолетом Ан-2, принадлежавшего частному предприятию «Беркут-Авиа», который загорелся на взлете, Авиационная администрация Казахстана объявила об усилении мер по безопасности полетов эксплуатантов малой авиации.

«По поручению Комитета гражданской авиации Министерства транспорта РК, усиливаются меры, направленные на предупреждение повторения авиационных происшествий, в том числе путем приостановления деятельности компаний, приостановления действия сертификатов летной годности воздушных судов, привлечения к административной ответственности лиц, нарушающих требования законодательства», - говорится в сообщении ААК.

Эксплуатантам Ан-2 предписано провести дополнительные оценки всех воздушных судов данного типа «по программе оценки летной годности, усиления контроля за подготовкой авиационного персонала к выполнению полетов и другие меры профилактики».

С началом весенне-летнего периода эксплуатации воздушных судов малой авиации, задействованных в авиационных работах, участились факты авиационных происшествий, отметили в авиационной администрации.

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Авиационное происшествие с самолетом Ан-2 в Казахстане

?? Сегодня, 21 июля, в 18.50 ч в Жаркаинском районе Акмолинской области при выполнении технического облета произошло авиационное происшествие с самолетом Ан-2 (регистрационный номер UPA0141), сообщило Министерство транспорта Казахстана.

По данным Департамента по чрезвычайным ситуациям Акмолинской области, биплан загорелся на взлете.

На борту находился один пилот. Воздушное судно принадлежит частному предприятию «Беркут-Авиа».

Пожар был локализован, по предварительной информации жертв и пострадавших нет.

По данному инциденту Министерством транспорта РК создается комиссия по расследованию авиапроисшествия.

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FlyArystan increased the number of flights to international destinations

?? As part of its international flight development program, Kazakhstan-based low-cost carrier FlyArystan (part of Air Astana group) continues to add flight frequencies to international destinations during the summer period and increased the number of flights from Aktau to Baku to three times a week.

Earlier the Central Asian first budget airline resumed flights to the capital of Azerbaijan from Astana. Since June they are performed twice a week.

This month the LCC also doubled the number of flights from Aktau to Istanbul (Türkiye) to four times per week.

To maintain flight intensity and punctuality, FlyArystan put two additional Airbus A320 aircraft into service earlier in July.

Its current fleet of 22 aircraft will grow by 2 more A320s by the end of 2024.

FlyArystan operates network of flights from bases in Almaty, Astana, Atyrau, Aktau and Shymkent. The route network includes domestic and international routes to Georgia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, India, UAE, Qatar and China.
Image: FlyArystan

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