OMM Newsroom
Rising demand for air freight and the expansion of international aviation networks in Central Asia and the South Caucasus are creating new trade opportunities. Countries are investing in airports and seeking to strengthen their positions in global supply chains.
The growing importance of air cargo is among the main topics at the 22nd International Transport and Logistics Exhibition, “TransLogistica Uzbekistan 2026,” held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from November 10 to 12.
Air cargo in global trade
Air transport plays an important role in international trade, particularly in shipping high-value, time-sensitive and perishable goods. Although it accounts for less than 1% of global trade by volume, it carries about 35% of its value.
More than $8 trillion worth of goods are transported by air each year. The global air cargo market is forecast to grow from about $177 billion in 2025 to more than $273 billion by 2032.
Trade links between regions expand
As Central Asia and the South Caucasus seek to strengthen their positions on international trade routes, air links are becoming increasingly important. Azerbaijan and Georgia are among the key countries connecting the Caspian and Black Sea regions and complement the wider Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also known as the Middle Corridor.
Air cargo links between Central Asia and the Baltic region are also expanding. Riga has become one of the main hubs for freight carried on Uzbekistan Airways’ direct flights.
Janis Kasalis, president of the Association of Latvian Stevedoring Companies, told AnewZ that existing cooperation supports the transport of various goods, including animals, from the Baltic states to Uzbekistan.
Disruptions to traditional land transport routes have increased the importance of air freight, particularly for time-sensitive shipments, Kasalis said. He also stressed the need to maintain cargo flows in both directions: e-commerce goods move one way, while export products provide freight traffic in the opposite direction.
Uzbekistan expands its air cargo network
Uzbekistan is stepping up efforts to increase its presence in the global air cargo market. The country’s airports carried about 98,100 tonnes of cargo and mail in 2025. In the first nine months of 2026, the volume reached 84,800 tonnes, up 27% year on year.
Shakhzod Sadikov, a marketing and tariffs specialist at Uzbekistan Airways, told AnewZ that the airline works with logistics companies transporting cargo to Europe, the Americas and Asia, including China and Japan.
Sadikov said air freight offers advantages over sea transport in speed and service quality, particularly on long-distance routes. Citing shipments to New York, he said air transport can significantly shorten delivery times compared with sea freight.
Uzbekistan Airways is also considering ways to expand its international cargo network. Warsaw is among the destinations under discussion.
Billions invested in airport infrastructure
Growing demand for air cargo is accelerating major investment in the expansion of airports and logistics infrastructure across the region.
One of the largest projects is Uzbekistan’s New Tashkent International Airport. It is being developed under a 35-year concession involving Uzbekistan Airports, Saudi Arabia’s Vision Invest, Japan’s Sojitz Corporation and South Korea’s Incheon International Airport Corporation.
The first phase of the project is expected to cost about $2.5 billion. The airport is scheduled to open by the end of 2030. Initially, it will be able to serve up to 20 million passengers and handle about 300,000 tonnes of cargo a year.
Kazakhstan plans to expand Aktau International Airport at a cost of $600 million. The project includes a new cargo terminal expected to raise annual freight capacity to 80,000–100,000 tonnes.
The “Silk Way Cargo Village” project in Azerbaijan’s Alat Free Economic Zone envisages an integrated logistics hub built around a fully automated, 30,000-square-metre cargo terminal.
The facility is scheduled for completion in 2026. It will combine air, rail and road transport with warehousing, cargo consolidation and customs services.
Regional cooperation key to future growth
As global trade routes shift, closer cooperation among airlines, airports and logistics operators will be important for attracting international cargo flows.
Expanding regular air services, securing cargo in both directions and improving links with rail and road networks could boost the competitiveness of Central Asia and the South Caucasus in the global logistics market.
