TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, April 21. The
International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced plans
to open a new office in Tashkent and launch the Billing and
Settlement Plan (BSP) system in Uzbekistan by the end of this year,
Trend reports via the
Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan.
“Uzbekistan is a growing market that holds a leading position in
Central Asia in both passenger and cargo transportation. The
opening of an IATA office and the introduction of BSP in the
country will provide strategic support for the development of air
transport by improving safety standards and operational
efficiency,” said Rafael Schvartzman, IATA’s Regional Vice
President for Europe.
According to Schvartzman, the introduction of BSP will allow
Uzbek airlines to process financial transactions more efficiently
and at lower cost on a global scale, while also creating new
opportunities to market air services internationally and strengthen
the country’s international air links.
IATA sees Uzbekistan as a potential regional aviation hub due to
its strategic geographic location. According to the association’s
forecasts, revenue passenger kilometers in the country are expected
to grow at an average annual rate of 3.3 percent between 2024 and
2050, exceeding the projected global average.
Among the key priorities identified for the sector’s development
are alignment with international standards, including the
implementation of the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) program,
further modernization of airport infrastructure in Tashkent,
Bukhara and Urgench, and ensuring the economic efficiency of these
facilities in line with airline needs.
Meanwhile, the Billing and Settlement Plan is a global system
designed to simplify and standardize financial settlements between
IATA-accredited passenger sales agents and participating airlines.
The platform manages ticket sales and related financial
transactions between hundreds of airlines and tens of thousands of
travel agents worldwide.
