The aviation sector across Central Asia and the South Caucasus entered 2025 on the back of strong traffic growth in 2024, providing a solid foundation for accelerated expansion, fleet modernization, and infrastructure investment. Passenger and cargo volumes across the region rose at double-digit rates, underscoring a sustained post-pandemic recovery and growing regional and international connectivity.

Uzbekistan emerged as one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the region. In 2024, the country’s 10 airports served 13.5  million passengers, a 29.7% year-on-year increase, while cargo and mail volumes reached 87,460 tons, up 22.6%. Flag carrier Uzbekistan Airways carried more than 6 million passengers, representing 20% growth, while private and newly launched carriers gained scale rapidly. Qanot Sharq transported 601,400 passengers on over 4,000 flights, maintaining its position as the country’s second-largest airline. Startups showed strong early traction, with Air Samarkand carrying 152,600 passengers and 2,650 tons of cargo in its first year of scheduled service, and Centrum Air surpassing 500,000 passengers. Samarkand International Airport alone handled 1.38 million passengers, up 36.6% year-on-year, highlighting the success of regional airport development.

Kazakhstan also recorded robust growth, with national airlines carrying 14.68  million passengers in 2024, a 10.6% increase over 2023. Air cargo volumes rose 17%, reaching 27,880 tons. The Air Astana Group carried 9 million passengers (+11.2%), accounting for 61% of total airline traffic in the country, while SCAT Airlines grew passenger numbers by 12% to 4.73 million. Kazakhstan’s airports served approximately 29.7 million passengers, with Almaty Airport handling 11.43 million passengers (+20%) and 114,600 tons of cargo (+16%), representing 70% of national air cargo throughput. Astana’s Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport served 8.32 million passengers (+11%) and increased cargo and mail volumes by 39%.

Elsewhere in the region, Azerbaijan and Tajikistan posted some of the fastest growth rates. Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) carried 4.04 million passengers, a 38.7% increase year-on-year, while Baku Heydar Aliyev International Airport handled 7.54 million passengers, up 31%. In Tajikistan, Somon Air transported over 1 million passengers, reflecting 27.7% growth, and increased cargo volumes by 41% to 1,451 tons, although Dushanbe International Airport recorded mixed results with 2.34 million passengers (+5%) and a decline in cargo throughput.

In the South Caucasus, Georgia’s three international airports handled a combined 7.43 million passengers, a 24% increase, while flight numbers rose 25% to 31,937 movements, further underscoring regional demand recovery.

Against this backdrop of strong traffic growth, 2025 saw Central Asian countries intensify investments in new aircraft, airport infrastructure, regulatory liberalization, and international partnerships. The combination of rapidly expanding passenger bases, rising cargo demand, and improving safety, sustainability, and governance frameworks positions Central Asia as one of the most dynamic emerging aviation markets across Eurasia.