At a press conference featuring Air Marakanda CEO of Anton Khodzhayan, Commercial Director Artem Pak, Head of the Samarkand regional branch of the Civil Service Development Agency Rustam Kobilov and General Director of China Southern Airlines’ office in Tashkent Shen Yi, the participants noted the great potential of flights between Samarkand and Urumqi.
Anton Khodjayan, Air Marakanda’s CEO, said: “We are pleased to welcome China Southern Airlines, whose direct flights between the ancient city of Samarkand and Urumqi mark a major new step for Uzbekistan aviation and tourism. China Southern Airlines’ new Urumqi link will expand the opportunities for both direct flights between Uzbekistan and China, and for new international connections via the vast connection network of Western China’s largest city.”
Shen Yi, General Director of China Southern Airlines’ office in Tashkent, added: “We see many more prospects for development in the field of tourism and trade between the two states and in the spirit of reviving the Great Silk Road, founded many centuries ago, China Southern has plans to open even more new routes between China and Samarkand in the near future.”
Flights from Urumqi to Samarkand will operate once weekly, departing at 11:20 pm on Sunday.
Flights from Samarkand to Urumqi will depart at 01:30 am on Monday.
China Southern Airlines will operate using Boeing 737-800 aircraft for the flights, with ticket prices starting from $200 one way. Tickets can be purchased, and additional services arranged, at Samarkand International Airport’s 24-hour ticket office, etc.
The inauguration of this route now connects the political, economic, and cultural center of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in the north-western part of China with historic Samarkand for the first time.
