Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Access for taxi aggregators to Tashkent International Airport will be simplified. This was announced by the chairman of Uzbekistan Airports, Javlonbek Umarhodjaev, according to Gazety.uz.

He recalled that after the completion of the first stage of expanding the departure terminal in mid-November 2024, the reconstruction of the arrival hall towards the forecourt began. This decision was driven by numerous complaints from citizens who are forced to wait for arriving passengers in the open air without shelter from the sun or rain.

"Although we have built a temporary waiting structure, it cannot be considered a full solution. Nonetheless, we are sticking to the planned schedule, and the first stage of the arrival hall will be opened in May. This will allow those greeting arriving passengers to be in comfortable conditions, where various retail outlets will also be located, with information about them published on E-auksion," he stated.

Furthermore, the head of Uzbekistan Airports announced the creation of separate lanes for official taxi aggregators, which will simplify their access to the airport. This measure is aimed at combating illegal transport operators who intercept passengers exiting the terminal.

In conjunction with the opening of the arrival hall, scheduled for this summer, Uzbekistan Airports, together with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Tashkent administration, plan to introduce a comprehensive solution incorporating digital elements.

"We are working with several taxi operators to install their control terminals at the exit of the hall, which will allow passengers without mobile connectivity to order transportation directly on site. These conveniences will be implemented," noted Umarhodjaev.

In September 2022, Uzbekistan Airports selected the company Bobur Diyor as the sole taxi operator at Tashkent airport. The company committed to eventually providing parking access for other taxi parks. However, the Competition Development Committee mandated that violations of antitrust legislation be remedied by requiring the operator to allow all licensed taxi services access to the terminal and to eliminate the requirement for fixed tariffs.

Uzbekistan Airports stated its intention to appeal this ruling, emphasizing that the introduction of a unified service has brought order to the passenger transportation system. Nevertheless, the company expressed its readiness to expand the list of official carriers. In April 2024, the second licensed taxi service, Sixt Uzbekistan, began operations at Tashkent airport, offering passengers a choice of three tariffs as well as the option to order a minibus.