Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 21 March 2024, an Air Samarkand aircraft made the first regular commercial flight in the direction of Samarkand - Istanbul - Samarkand on an Airbus A321neo aircraft. This flight opened a new stage in the airline’s activities.

The flight, which took place on the eve of the Navruz holiday, opened up a new opportunity for direct and affordable flights between Samarkand and the largest city and airport in Türkiye. From today, the airline will operate flights to this route every Monday and Thursday. Air Samarkand expects to increase the frequency of flights soon.

During a gala event held on the morning of 21 March at Samarkand International Airport, the airline introduced its new official ambassador - the famous Uzbek singer and composer, winner of many international awards, Sevara Nazarzkhan.

The airline noted high demand for the first and upcoming flights. This was facilitated by an effective and fruitful partnership with the agencies Easy Booking and Biletbank, which ensured the sale of air tickets.

The first flight to Istanbul was 100% full, with all 211 seats of the Airbus A321neo occupied. 188 new airline customers registered for the return flight. Despite the slight delay in departure, passengers in both segments spoke warmly about the airline’s service and the flight in general: the flight attendants heard pleasant comments about both the work of the crew and the food on the flight.

Air Samarkand General Director, Zafar Butaev commented: “Today is a big day for our airline. Our team has done a lot to open regular destinations this spring. We are glad that Istanbul became the first city: Türkiye and Uzbekistan are united by long-standing business and cultural ties, and this route is in great demand. In the coming months, we plan to open new directions and increase frequencies. Separately, I want to congratulate and thank the passengers of our first regular flight: thank you for choosing Air Samarkand!”

The airline’s immediate plans include opening such destinations as Tbilisi, Dubai, Jeddah and a number of destinations in Türkiye. In addition, a charter program is planned starting in April: together with the international tourism operator Crystal Bay, Air Samarkand will operate flights to the most popular resorts: Bali, Phuket, Phu Quoc and Nha Trang.