New passenger terminal at Fergana Valley’s largest airport to debut by year-end

Image: Press Service of the President of Uzbekistan

The new passenger terminal at Namangan International Airport (NMA), one of Uzbekistan’s primary aviation hubs, is scheduled to open by the end of 2026, followed by the commissioning of a new cargo complex in 2027. The updated project timeline was disclosed on June 23 during President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s official visit to the Namangan region. NMA serves the most densely populated region of Uzbekistan—the Fergana Valley—which is home to nearly 12 million people, accounting for almost a third of the country’s total population.

The expansion of Namangan Airport is a key component of Uzbekistan’s large-scale transport infrastructure modernization program. According to the presidential press service, the project has attracted $175 million in investment. The project is being executed under a public-private partnership (PPP) framework established by the presidential decree of March 29, 2021, targeting national airport management development.

Namangan Air Solution, set up by UAE-based ME CA Overseas Investments DMCC, is executing the project as the private partner. The regional administration of the Namangan region engaged the investor in September 2024. No public tender was announced, as the project is being implemented under a restricted Cabinet of Ministers resolution dated October 2, 2023.

Slated for operations by late 2027, the new cargo terminal will feature a daily handling capacity of up to 50 tons. Its launch is set to establish a unified logistics network across the Fergana Valley, integrating operations with neighboring regional airports in Andijan and Fergana. The broader infrastructure upgrade also includes a modern inflight catering facility, a refueling complex, and key support installations.

In Q1 2026, NMA processed over 210,000 passengers, ranking as the fourth-largest airport in Uzbekistan by passenger traffic.

Originally opened in 1971, Namangan Airport has held international status since 2013. Today, nine airlines operate scheduled flights through the hub.