Uzbek president Shavkat Mirziyoyev has ordered the new international airport in Bukhara, costing $300 million, and the road to it to be completed before Independence Day, 1 September 2027. The president's press secretary reported the instructions on 4 November 2026 in connection with the development of Bukhara region. These are instructions, not a sign of readiness: the stage of work has not been named.
What has been announced
The airport costs $300 million. The complex is designed to serve up to 20 aircraft and 1,200 passengers at the same time. One publication gives the 1,200 figure as "per hour"; most say "simultaneously," and we follow that wording. A road of about 24 km leads to the city, and the project includes a dedicated 5.5 km lane for public transport (BRT). A report of 3 November gave the road length as 23.5 km and a report of 4 November as 24 km; the difference has not been explained.
Routes
The reports say direct flights from Bukhara to Malaysia, Indonesia, Kuwait, Egypt and Bahrain are to open in 2027. One publication does not mention Bahrain. These are plans and instructions: carriers, dates and schedules have not been named. Separately, the Turkish airline Pegasus is launching flights from Istanbul to Bukhara.
Ground access
The draft strategy for developing domestic passenger transport to 2030, under public discussion until 11 November, provides for loans for a railway line from Bukhara station to the new airport. The strategy is still a draft.
Not yet announced
The financing structure and investor. The contractor and the result of tenders. The current stage of construction. Whether the new airport will replace the existing one. Annual capacity. The status of any public-private partnership. The carriers and dates for flights to Malaysia, Indonesia, Kuwait, Egypt and Bahrain.
Our assessment: a deadline of 1 September 2027 is less than a year from the instruction. Without a named contractor, financing and current stage, it is not possible to judge how realistic it is. The international destinations remain instructions rather than flights. This is flycentralasia's conclusion, not a statement by the presidential administration.
What businesses can do
Terminal contractors and suppliers of airfield and passenger systems should watch for tenders and the announcement of a contractor. Investors should ask for the project structure and the state's role. Airlines and tour operators should not build new international flights from Bukhara into plans until carriers and dates are announced.