Airport management company Air Marakanda, which manages the Samarkand International airport, has announced the opening of a new flight operated by China Southern Airlines between Urumqi and Samarkand in Uzbekistan.
The airline will be the first carrier operating flights to Samarkand from China.
The route between the Xinjiang capital and Samarkand is currently scheduled once a week only, departing Urumqi at 2320 on Sundays, and returning from Samarkand at 0130 on Mondays.
China Southern Airlines will deploy a two class Boeing 737-800 on the route, with 2-2 recliners in business class and 3-3 in economy.
“This announcement marks a new step in the growing relationship between the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Uzbekistan. This new gateway will further promote strong interconnectivity and collaboration between our two nations and provide a new economic pathway for capital to flow for both business and tourism respectively,” commented Dmitry Martynenko, commercial director for Air Marakanda.
Urumqi is one of the most landlocked major cities in the world. Located on the northern slopes of the Tianshan Mountains, historically the region has long had strong business ties with Central Asia, as among the core traffic are business travellers and independent traders.
Urumqi airport currently offers service to some 70 domestic destinations in China.
