Three hundred and forty aviation and logistics representatives gathered in Tashkent on 30 September and 1 October with a shared thesis: Central Asia's future as an air cargo gateway depends less on adding aircraft capacity than on customs reform, data standards and multimodal connections linking China, Europe and the Middle East.

The Central Asia Aviation Cargo Summit brought together airlines, airports, forwarders, regulators and technology providers at a moment when the region's cargo market is getting more complex. New routes and capacity are arriving, e-commerce is generating fresh traffic flows, and regional airports are competing openly to become the gateway of choice for Eurasian freight.

Opening sessions featured Catalin Radu, CEO and director general of RGC AvNet, and Henrik Hololei, former director general at the European Commission, alongside representatives from IATA, Malakut Insurance Brokers, Turkish Technology and Almaty International Airport. Their agenda spanned international cargo standards, aviation insurance, artificial intelligence in cargo sales and customer service, and airport development.

What did the summit change?

The commercial stakes sit in the corridor discussion. Representatives from Silk Way West Airlines, Saudia Cargo and DHL Global Forwarding examined how air, rail and road networks can be combined to strengthen links with China, Europe, the Middle East and other markets.

E-commerce is adding demand layers of its own. Perishables, high-value shipments and last-mile delivery are placing new requirements on regional cargo infrastructure. Aélia, YDA Group, Pacific Air Holdings and EMEX / FedEx Central Asia discussed insurance, regional gateways, special cargo and customs as cross-border volumes expand.

The multimodal focus marks a shift in regional ambition. Operators are no longer developing airports and air services in isolation; they are asking how aviation fits into broader logistics corridors connecting Central Asia with major trading markets. For carriers and forwarders, that means pairing regional gateways with established Eurasian trade lanes.

Why do digital standards matter now?

An IATA roundtable assembled Lufthansa Cargo, Qatar Airways, Centrum Air / My Freighter and Uzbekistan's Customs Committee to discuss certification, ONE Record, cargo connectivity, regulatory modernisation and data exchange between industry participants.

The logic is commercial, not technical. As cargo networks become more interconnected, the ability of airlines, airports, forwarders and customs authorities to exchange data across systems determines whether freight actually moves faster. Speakers argued Central Asian markets must align with international cargo standards to attract more global operators and integrate with established Eurasian supply chains.

Automation carries similar weight. Hans Infomatic addressed cargo terminal automation, cybersecurity and ONE Record on the summit's second day, arguing airports can handle higher volumes without simply adding manual processes and labour — a pressing point given workforce constraints.

Which airports are competing for the flows?

Tashkent Airport and Navoi International Airport used the summit to outline cargo development strategies and infrastructure plans, while a wider panel examined the prospects for Tashkent, Almaty, Navoi and other regional gateways.

The panel's composition signals the ecosystem forming around the region: Silk Way West Airlines, Centrum Air, EMEX / FedEx Central Asia, Atlas Air, Lufthansa Cargo, Chapman Freeborn, Turkish Airlines and Navoi International Airport. Capacity was one thread, but so were charter operations, ACMI, digital platforms, express logistics and GSSA services.

Chapman Freeborn discussed strategic air chartering on day two, while Atlas Air examined ACMI solutions for the region. Latvijas Pasts addressed the role of postal operators and airlines in cross-border e-commerce.

Is labour the next bottleneck?

Workforce availability is already emerging as a constraint on expansion. A final panel involving Qanot Sharq, Centrum Air, Jupiter Jet and SCAT Airlines focused on training, professional skills and staffing requirements tied to a growing aviation sector.

The summit also produced concrete agreements: signing ceremonies between RGC AvNet and AeroClass, and between the Civil Aviation Authority of Romania and the Civil Aviation Authority of Uzbekistan, alongside extensive bilateral meetings between airlines, airports, forwarders and technology companies.

The question the Tashkent gathering leaves open is whether investment, partnerships and regulatory reform translate into new services, more efficient cargo handling and stronger connections across the Eurasian freight network — or remain conference-floor ambitions as the region's airports continue competing for the same flows.