Air Marakanda, operator of the newly modernized Samarkand International Airport (“SKD”), announces the completion of the first phase of work under a contract with TAV Technologies to fully digitalize the airport’s operations. TAV Technologies is a subsidiary of TAV Airports Holding, which is a member of Groupe ADP – the international airport operator.

Signatories and company representatives attended a signing ceremony indicating the next phase of the work at the CIP lounge of Samarkand International Airport's new terminal. The company officials included Franck Mereyde, Chairman of Executive Committee & Executive of the Board of Directors of TAV Airports; M. Kerem Ozturk, General Manager of TAV Technologies; and Gairat Neimatov, CEO of Air Marakanda. 

Modernization works incorporate TAV Technologies’ software and hardware solutions and are being implemented across all levels of the airport’s business.

Gairat Neimatov, CEO of Air Marakanda, said: “We are delighted to take the final step to fully digitalize Samarkand International Airport’s operations, which will provide an unprecedented level of service in Uzbekistan’s aviation industry.

“The new phase of work follows the recent opening of the Airport’s new terminal. With its modern infrastructure, streamlined processes, and technology-enabled service offering, Samarkand International Airport is a new standard for travel to Uzbekistan’s most famous historic city. We are grateful for TAV Technologies’ support with its market-leading expertise in airport management technology solutions.”

M. Kerem Öztürk, General Manager of TAV Technologies, commented: “We are glad to be the technology partner of Samarkand International Airport in such a significant project that aims at full digitalization of airport and passenger operations. The product implementations will both directly improve passenger experience and enhance operational efficiency.”

The exciting digitalization progress follows the newly expanded and redesigned Samarkand International Airport, having opened the doors of its modern terminal building in March 2022.

The airport will positively impact Uzbekistan’s economic growth and create many jobs in the region. The impact on regional development is closely connected to the increased attraction of international tourists. As well as historic Silk Road city Samarkand, many popular Uzbekistan tourist sites can be easily accessed by travelers entering via the expanded airport. To cope with this new demand, the airport has tripled its passenger capacity post-modernization. Air Marakanda is also actively pursuing new route plans and cooperation with airlines to increase the number of available destinations.

TAV Technologies’ service portfolio includes major international hubs in over 15 countries such as Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Georgia and Kazakhstan.

Advanced technology solutions implemented will support seamless airport experience and operation, and include: Modern check-in desks and boarding gates, Air stairs, Passport control booths, E-gates for departing passengers; and Passport control booths to provide easy passenger access.

TAV Technologies’ software solutions employ AI-based algorithms to increase productivity and performance of these new airport resources.

TAV Technologies’ Total Airport Management Suite (TAMS) will support SKD to manage land-side and air-side processes aligned with existing systems. The TAMS platform will control each step of airport operations, covering flight management, resource management, SLOT management, flight information display, and ground handling management. Moreover, TAV Technologies Passenger Flow Management module eases the passenger journey, whilst its Commercial Management module improves cost management and invoice tracking. 

Other innovative systems included in Air Marakanda’s partnership with TAV Technologies are Common Use Passenger Processing System (CUPPS) and Common Use Self Service (CUSS) solutions to facilitate passenger transactions. 

The IATA certified CUPPS solution eliminates the need for various check-in desks for each airline. CUSS will positively transform the passenger experience via self-service opportunities, for multiple airlines, at shared kiosks, without the need on-the-ground employees.