Uzbekistan’s private airlines set sights on Europe

:: Centrum Air

Two of Uzbekistan’s leading privately-held carriers, Centrum Air and Qanot Sharq, are launching scheduled flights to Europe, challenging the national flag carrier, Uzbekistan Airways, on key routes.

Centrum Air (IATA: C6) will make its debut on the European market on March 30, with the launch of flights from the Uzbek capital to Frankfurt, Germany. The seven-and-a-half-hour flights will operate twice weekly using Airbus A321neo narrowbody aircraft.

In the longer term—tentatively in April 2027—the airline plans to launch regular flights to Paris, as announced last week during a working meeting with the French Ambassador to Uzbekistan.

Plans for flights to Copenhagen (Denmark) and Manchester (England) were also previously announced, but their launch has now been postponed indefinitely, Centrum Air told CentralAsia+ Aero. Madrid, Barcelona, and Rome are also under consideration.

These European routes are central to Centrum Air’s strategy to transform Tashkent into a transit hub, offering European passengers seamless connections to destinations such as Bangkok, Seoul, Guangzhou, Phuket, Delhi, and Malé.

Qanot Sharq (HH) is also expanding its footprint by entering the Frankfurt market. Starting March 31, the airline will operate twice-weekly flights to the German hub using A321 aircraft. The carrier already has experience on European routes, having operated seasonal flights to Budapest and Prague, and launching service to London (Gatwick) in mid-December last year.

Notably, private players will now provide direct competition to Uzbekistan Airways on key routes including Frankfurt, London, and Paris.

CentralAsia+ Aero earlier reported: Centrum Air becomes network anchor at Samarkand airport.

CentralAsia+ Aero earlier reported: Tashkent expands Dubai connectivity: Qanot Sharq debuts service to Al Maktoum International.

CentralAsia+ Aero earlier reported: Uzbekistan’s Qanot Sharq becomes first A321XLR operator in Central Asia and the CIS.