Uzbekistan Domestic Airfares Surge 74% in Three Months
Uzbekistan Faces Rising Inflation Amid Soaring Ticket Prices
According to data released by the Statistics Committee, Uzbekistan’s annual inflation rate has reached 10.1% as of April. The report highlights significant price increases in various sectors, particularly in domestic air travel, where airfare has skyrocketed by 74% from February to April. In contrast, international flight prices have experienced a more modest rise of 12.5%, attributed to stronger market competition.
Economist Otabek Bakirov noted the dramatic increase in domestic flight ticket prices, citing data from the agency’s monthly inflation bulletins. The official monthly inflation data reveals the following airfare trends:
- February: Domestic flights increased by 160%, while international fares rose by 1.9%.
- March: A 3.9% hike for domestic flights and a 4.8% rise for international routes.
- April: Domestic airfares went up by 4.9%, with international tickets climbing 5.3%.
As a result, domestic airfare prices have surged by 74.4% during this three-month period, whereas prices for international flights have risen by 12.45%.
The Statistics Committee also reported that monthly inflation for April 2025 stood at 0.7%, with an average monthly rate of 0.7% from January to April—comparable to the 0.8% recorded in 2023 and 0.6% in 2024.
Further breakdown of the inflation data shows that service prices increased by 1% in April, goods by 0.6%, and food items by 0.8%. The most notable price hikes were observed in meat and oil products.
Additionally, transportation costs for passenger services via car and rail rose by 1.3%. Fuel costs saw a varied trend, with methane fuel up by 2.6%, gasoline down by 0.4%, and propane dropping significantly by 8.7%.
A key factor contributing to the rising inflation in April was the information and communications sector, which saw prices increase by 1.4% for the month, 3.6% since the start of the year, and 6.6% year-on-year. This increase is primarily attributed to a 2.5% rise in mobile communication service tariffs.
As Uzbekistan grapples with these economic shifts, the rising costs—especially in travel and essential services—are likely to be a growing concern for both consumers and policymakers.
