Kyrgyzstan Plans to Open New Jalal-Abad Airport in Fall 2027

Kyrgyzstan plans to expand its air cargo capacity with a new international airport in the Jalal-Abad region and a cargo terminal near Bishkek. The new airport is expected to open in fall 2027 near the route of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway. The cargo terminal would handle goods arriving by road from China for onward flights to Europe and the Middle East. Jalal-Abad International Airport is under construction in the Bagysh area of Suzak District, near the city of Manas, formerly Jalal-Abad. On November 11, Manasbek Samidinov, chairman of the management board of Airports of Kyrgyzstan, put the preliminary construction cost at $60 million. The contractor is Kyrgyzstroyservis, a state enterprise under the Presidential Property Management Department. The project includes a 3,600-meter runway, two taxiways, an apron with room for four aircraft, and a 12,000-square-meter passenger terminal. The airport is designed to handle aircraft in the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 families, including freighter versions. Domestic passenger flights are planned initially. The operator then intends to hold talks with foreign airlines about international routes. Samidinov said the railway could help the airport develop as a cargo hub. The line, designed to carry up to 15 million metric tons of freight a year, will connect Kashgar in China with Andijan in Uzbekistan. Construction formally began in December 2024, and the Kyrgyz section is estimated to cost $4.7 billion. At the planned Makmal transshipment hub, containers would be transferred between trains that run on tracks of different widths. At Manas International Airport near Bishkek, the operator plans to use its own funds to build a 40,000-square-meter cargo terminal. The facility would include bonded warehouses, where goods can be stored before customs duties are paid, and specialized storage for pharmaceuticals, perishable foods, plants, and hazardous cargo. Samidinov said Chinese partners and international logistics operators had expressed interest in the project. Kyrgyzstan will have to compete for this traffic with airports in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan that already have cargo facilities. Air freight costs considerably more than rail or road transport, so the most likely customers are shippers of time-sensitive or high-value goods and products that require specialized storage.

Kyrgyzstan Begins Construction of New Jalal-Abad International Airport

On May 13, President Sadyr Japarov laid the foundation stone for a new international airport in Jalal-Abad, Kyrgyzstan’s third-largest city. The new airport will span over 380 hectares and include a two-story passenger terminal covering 10,000 square meters, with the capacity to handle 350 passengers per hour. Its airfield infrastructure will meet international standards, featuring a 3,800-meter runway and six aircraft parking bays. The facility will accommodate both passenger and cargo aircraft, including Boeing 737, Airbus A320, and A321 models. Unlike a renovation of the existing facility, the project entails entirely new construction. The current Jalal-Abad airport dates back to 1938, originally serving as an airfield, with a terminal building and asphalt runway added in 1972. Boosting Air Infrastructure At the groundbreaking ceremony, Japarov emphasized the rising demand for both domestic and international flights, underscoring the need to expand the country's airport infrastructure. “Since 2021, Kyrgyzstan has increased passenger traffic by 46% and the number of flights by 31%. New aircraft have been acquired, and previously idle regional airports have resumed operations,” he said. He also noted that the newly established Asman Airlines has restored all domestic routes, linking the capital, Bishkek, with Talas, Karakol, and Kerben. In 2024, the airline added two Canadian-made Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 short-haul aircraft to its fleet for domestic service. Regional Impact Japarov stated that the new Jalal-Abad International Airport would enhance logistics, trade, tourism, and investment across the Fergana Valley, a region shared by Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. This project is part of Kyrgyzstan’s broader strategy to modernize its aviation infrastructure. In February 2025, construction began on a new airport complex at Osh International Airport, located in the country’s second-largest city. Kyrgyzstan has also recently inaugurated Karakol International Airport and Talas Airport. Reconstruction efforts are currently underway at Issyk-Kul International Airport and Naryn Airport.