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Turkmenistan is planning to build two international airports at Ashgabat and Turkmenabat by the end of 2016 in an effort to improve tourism and economy.

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These two airports will complement the existing Turkmenbashi International Airport and Ashgabat International Airport, as reported in Central Asia Online.

The new Ashgabat airport, designed to handle 1,600 passengers per hour, will cost an expected $2.2 billion, while the Turkmenabat airport, designed to handle 500 passengers per hour, is projected to cost about a third of Ashgabat airport.

Turkish contractor Polimeks has secured the contract to construct the Ashgabat airport, while Ukraine-based Altkom Road Construction has bagged contract to build the Turkmenabat facility. Construction of the new airport in Ashgabat has already commenced.