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Samarkand International Airport

Samarkand International Airport (Uzbek: Samarqand Xalqaro Aeroporti (IATA: SKD, ICAO: UTSS) is an airport of entry in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, 6 km (3.7 mi) from the city center. The airport is operated by Uzbekistan Airways since the airline's creation in 1992. The airport has domestic as well as international flights and is the second-largest airport in Uzbekistan after Tashkent International Airport.[4] The airport operates flights across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.[5] It also serves as a hub for Air Samarkand.[6]

Samarkand International Airport

Samarqand Xalqaro Aeroporti
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerBakhtiyor Fazilov[1]
OperatorAir Marakanda[2]
ServesSamarkand, Samarqand Region
LocationSamarkand, Uzbekistan
Opened1967
Hub forAir Samarkand
Focus city for
Time zone{{{timezone}}} (UTC+05:00)
Elevation AMSL2,224 ft / 678 m
Coordinates39°42′02″N 66°59′02″E / 39.70056°N 66.98389°E / 39.70056; 66.98389
Websitehttps://samarkandairport.com/en/
Map
SKD is located in Uzbekistan
SKD
SKD
Location of air base in Uzbekistan
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
09/27 10,170 3,100 Asphalt
Statistics (2023)
PassengersIncrease 1,010,938 [3]
Samarkand International Airport

Samarkand International Airport is located on the northern outskirts of Samarkand city at an altitude of 680 meters above sea level.

History

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Samarkand International Airport is the first airport in the modern history of Uzbekistan.[7] The initial facilities for the airport were constructed in 1967, including a runway, a small terminal, and basic infrastructure.[8] In its early years, the airport mostly operated domestic charter flights, until the first scheduled flights began in the 1980s.[9] The national airline Uzbekistan Airways started operating flights to the airport after its establishment in 1992, contributing to an increase in passenger traffic.

A new passenger terminal was built in 2009, taxiways were reconstructed, a new air traffic control building was constructed, and modern aeronautical navigation equipment was installed.

Renovation

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Domestic departures zone
 
Samarkand International Airport interior
 
Entrance from airfield

On November 27, 2018, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree aimed at improving and modernizing the country's civil aviation sector. In 2020, a comprehensive renovation and construction of a new terminal began.[10] The Uzbek Uzbekistan EPC company Enter Engineering carried out the project based on a design by the Turkish design firm Kiklop Construction.[11] The new terminal officially opened on March 18, 2022.[12]

To enhance Uzbekistan’s tourism potential, fully utilize the capabilities of Samarkand International Airport, and foster competition in the aviation market, an open skies regime was introduced at Samarkand International Airport on October 1, 2022.[13]

In 2022, nine new airlines, including five foreign carriers, began operating flights to Samarkand. Among them were Jazeera Airways, Pobeda, Panorama Airways, China Southern, Silk Avia, Humo Air, Centrum Air, SunExpress, and UVT Aero.[14]

In 2023, the airport served 1.01 million passengers.[15] It is one of the busiest airports in Uzbekistan.[16] International flights accounted for 918,500 passengers (a 106.4% increase), while domestic routes handled 92,300 passengers (91.2% growth). The most popular regional destination was Tashkent.

New Terminal

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Samarkand International Airport entrance

The new terminal was officially inaugurated on March 18, 2022, with the first flight being HY-045/046 from Tashkent. Weekly flights increased from 40 to approximately 120. During the renovation, 24 new parking stands for all types of aircraft were constructed, along with eight gates. Additionally, 29 check-in desks, 10 passport control counters, and six e-gates were added for departing passengers.[11]

With a total area of 41,216m2, the terminal’s capacity expanded from handling 300 to 1,000 passengers per hour, with annual passenger volume expected to grow from 460,000 to 2 million. The design resembles an open book, inspired by the astronomer Ulugh Beg.[17] The roof is designed to resemble a star chart.

The airport complex offers all types of services in line, including VIP and CIP lounges, a mother and child room, a medical station, ticket counters, post offices, domestic and international telephone communication, bars, restaurants, a currency exchange booth, and a Duty-Free shop.[18]

On August, 2022, Samarkand Airport became the first in Uzbekistan to introduce eGates. The system enables automated passport control, featuring document scanners and high-resolution cameras.[19]

Infrastructure

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The airport has a single asphalt-concrete runway with dimensions of 3100x60 meters (runway 09/27). After a general reconstruction, the airport is certified under ICAO Category 1 and can accommodate all types of aircraft, including the Il-62, Il-86, Tu-154, Airbus A310, Airbus A320, Boeing 737, Boeing 757, and Boeing 767.[20]

Airlines and destinations

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AirlinesDestinations
Aeroflot Moscow–Sheremetyevo
Air Samarkand Jeddah, Istanbul,[21] Tashkent[22]
Azerbaijan Airlines Baku[23]
azimuth Mineralnye Vody,[24] Sochi,[25] Ufa[26]
Centrum Air Tashkent[27]
flydubai Dubai–International[28]
Jazeera Airways Kuwait City
Loong Air Xi'an[29]
Pobeda Moscow–Vnukovo, Saint Petersburg[30]
Qanot Sharq Moscow–Domodedovo,[31] Tel Aviv[32]
Qazaq Air Türkistan[33]
Rossiya Airlines Saint Petersburg, Sochi[34]
S7 Airlines Novosibirsk
Silk Avia Fergana,[35] Tashkent, Urgench[36]
SunExpress İzmir[37]
Turkish Airlines Istanbul[38]
Ural Airlines Moscow-Domodedovo,[39] Yekaterinburg[40]
Utair Moscow–Vnukovo, Tyumen[41]
Uzbekistan Airways Andizhan,[42] Irkutsk,[43] Istanbul,[44][45] Moscow–Vnukovo,[46] Nizhny Novgorod,[47] Saint Petersburg, Tashkent,[48] Tel Aviv,[49] Zomin[50]
Wizz Air Abu Dhabi[51]

Transportation

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Road to Samarkand International Airport, 2023

Rental car services are provided by Hertz Rent A Car, Sixt and Europcar.[52]

South of the terminal, there is a hotel. Additionally, there is a connection to the M37 highway, which runs north of the airport.

The forecourt area refers to the transport lines closest to the terminals, designated as part of the aviation security zone. Entry to this area is permitted only for public transport and taxis for passenger pickup. Access to the forecourt area exceeding the 15-minute limit is subject to a fee.

Public transport

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Daily from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM, buses No. 52, 31, and M1 run from the central bus station and the Samarkand railway station to the airport. The travel time is approximately 15 minutes. The airport bus stop is located in front of the passenger terminal building, near the entrance and exit of the terminal.[53]

Taxi

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There are local Uzbek company Taxi OK and Russian Yandex Taxi offering services at Samarkand International Airport.[53]

Statistics

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Annual passenger traffic at SKD airport. See Wikidata query.
Annual passenger statistics of Samarkand International Airport (2022–2024)
Year Passengers References
2022 493,417 [54]
2023 1,010,938 [3]
2024 (9 month) 1,000,000 [55]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Об аэропорте".
  2. ^ Air Marakanda
  3. ^ a b [1]
  4. ^ "Samarkand International Airport Set a New Record for Passenger Traffic in 2023, Exceeding 1 Million" (in Russian). 2024-01-15. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  5. ^ "All Scheduled and Direct (Non-Stop) Flights from Samarkand (SKD)". 2024-03-08. Archived from the original on 2024-03-08. Retrieved 2024-03-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. ^ "AirSamarkand". airsamarkand.com (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  7. ^ "About the airport". samarkandairport.com. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  8. ^ "Samarkand International Airport Building". www.ent-en.com. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  9. ^ "Samarkand International Airport | Uzbekistan Travel". uzbekistan.travel. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  10. ^ "Uzliti Engineering". www.uzliti-en.com. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  11. ^ a b "Samarkand's new state-of-the-art terminal opens for business – Airport World". Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  12. ^ Woerkom, Klaas-Jan van (2022-03-18). "Modernized Samarkand International Airport aims for explosive growth". Luchtvaartnieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  13. ^ "В международном аэропорту Самарканда введут режим "открытого неба"". O'zbekistion Respublikasi Transport Vazirligi. Retrieved 2024-12-14.
  14. ^ "В 2023 году пассажиропоток в аэропорту Самарканда увеличился вдвое". Spot – Деловые новости Узбекистана (in Russian). 2024-01-15. Retrieved 2024-12-14.
  15. ^ "В 2023 году пассажиропоток в аэропорту Самарканда увеличился вдвое". Spot – Деловые новости Узбекистана (in Russian). 2024-01-15. Retrieved 2024-12-14.
  16. ^ Flightradar24. "Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map". Flightradar24. Retrieved 2024-10-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ "Samarkand International Airport Redevelopment, Uzbekistan". Airport Technology. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  18. ^ "Фото: Как выглядит новый аэропорт Самарканда – Газета.uz". Газета.uz. 19 March 2022. Archived from the original on 2022-05-31. Retrieved 2022-06-10.
  19. ^ "Самаркандский аэропорт первым в Узбекистане запустил систему E-gates". Spot – Деловые новости Узбекистана (in Russian). 2022-08-31. Retrieved 2024-12-14.
  20. ^ Справочник «Аэропорты и Авиакомпании, Авиапоставщики 2015 (СНГ и Балтия)». М.: Авиатека. 2015. ISBN 978-5-9905032-3-6.
  21. ^ "Air Samarkand Launches with Istanbul Flights, New CEO". eTurboNews. 18 March 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  22. ^ Liu, Jim (30 September 2024). "Air Samarkand Increases Samarkand – Tashkent From late-Sep 2024". AeroRoutes. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  23. ^ "AZERBAIJAN AIRLINES EXPANDS UZBEKISTAN SERVICE IN OCT 2022". AeroRoutes. 24 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  24. ^ "Azimuth Adds Samarqand Service From Dec 2022". Aeroroutes. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  25. ^ "Azimuth Schedules New Sochi – Central Asia Service in NW23". AeroRoutes. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  26. ^ Галинурова, Гульфия. "Из Уфы увеличивают количество международных рейсов » Новости Уфы и Башкирии – UfacityNews.ru". Новости Уфы и Башкирии – UfacityNews.ru (in Russian). Ufa City News. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  27. ^ "Centrum Air". www.centrum-air.com. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  28. ^ "flydubai to fly twice-weekly to Samarkand". Gulf Daily News. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  29. ^ "LOONG AIR ADDS XI'AN – SAMARKAND FROM MID-JUNE 2024". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  30. ^ "Авиакомпания "Победа" в феврале запускает сообщение между Санкт-Петербургом и Самаркандом". Podrobno.uz (in Russian). 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  31. ^ Liu, Jim (31 July 2024). "Qanot Sharq Moscow Service Changes From August 2024". AeroRoutes. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  32. ^ "Qanot Sharq Adds Tel Aviv Schedule in NS23".
  33. ^ "Qazaq Air Schedules Samarkand June 2024 Launch". AeroRoutes. 24 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  34. ^ "Aeroflot launches international network from Sochi, Russia". 26 March 2022.
  35. ^ "Silk Avia с октября запускает три новых рейса по Узбекистану" (in Russian). Spot.uz. Afisha Media. 24 September 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  36. ^ "Отечественный лоукостер Silk Avia запускает новые "авиамаршрутки" из Ташкента и Ферганы".
  37. ^ "SunExpress Schedules Samarqand mid-Nov 2023 Launch". AeroRoutes. 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  38. ^ "Turkish Airlines NS24 Intercontinental Network Changes – 31MAR24". AeroRoutes. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  39. ^ Ismailov, Kamol (13 June 2024). "Russian Ural Airlines taking off from Domodedovo airport to Uzbekistan's Samarkand". Trend.Az. Trend News Agency. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  40. ^ Истомина, Анастасия (26 December 2023). ""Уральские авиалинии" запустят рейсы в четыре города Узбекистана". Новый День (in Russian). Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  41. ^ "Utair NS24 Network Additions". AeroRoutes. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  42. ^ "Uzbekistan Airways Oct 2022 Domestic Network Additions". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  43. ^ "Uzbekistan Airways Adds Samarkand – Irkutsk From June 2024". AeroRoutes. 23 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  44. ^ Liu, Jim (3 October 2017). "Uzbekistan adds Samarkand – Istanbul service in W17". Routesonline. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  45. ^ Liu, JIm (8 November 2018). "Uzbekistan Airways W18 Samarkand – Istanbul aircraft changes". Routesonline. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  46. ^ "Uzbekistan Airways Moscow Service Changes From Oct 2023". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  47. ^ Ismailov, Kamol (29 April 2024). "Uzbekistan to launch flights to Russia's Nizhny Novgorod". Trend.Az. Trend News Agency. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  48. ^ "Uzbekistan Airways Begins LET L-410 Operations From late-July 2023". AeroRoutes. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  49. ^ "Uzbekistan Airways Adds Tel Aviv – Samarkand One-Way Service in NW23". AeroRoutes. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  50. ^ "Uzbekistan Airways Begins Zaamin Service From Sep 2023". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  51. ^ "Hungarian WizzAir to launch Samarkand flight".
  52. ^ "В аэропорту Самарканда открылись круглосуточные пункты аренды автомобилей". Spot – Деловые новости Узбекистана (in Russian). 2024-11-02. Retrieved 2024-12-14.
  53. ^ a b "Как добраться".
  54. ^ "Пассажиропоток аэропорта Самарканда за первое полугодие 2023 года вырос более чем в 2 раза и побил исторический максимум".
  55. ^ "Международный аэропорт Самарканда с начала года обслужил более миллиона пассажиров — Каракалпакское Информационное Агентство".
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