Uzbekistan’s new Air Samarkand airline announced that it will begin its scheduled flight program on Thursday, March 21. New carrier will operate flights on the route between Samarkand and Istanbul using their Airbus A321neo aircraft. During the initial phase, round-trip services will run twice a week, with departures from Samarkand International Airport (SKD) to Istanbul International Airport (IST) on Mondays and Thursdays. The scheduled flight time for this route is approximately 5 hours.
Zafar Butaev has also been named as the new CEO of Air Samarkand , replacing Anton Khodiayan. While Khodiayan will remain with the airline as an advisor, he will return to his role as Director General of Air Marakanda, the airport management company.
Istanbul is a highly desirable travel destination for people departing from Samarkand. It serves as a crucial link between Uzbekistan and Turkey, with deep-rooted cultural, business, and tourism connections that have developed over many centuries. Additionally, Istanbul airport provides a wide range of convenient travel options to various cities around the world. Air Samarkand intends to expand its flight offerings for this route in the near future.
Flights from Samarkand will leave at 8 am and reach Istanbul at 11.10 am. Return flights depart from Istanbul at 12:30 pm and arrive back in Samarkand at 7:00 pm (all times are local).
This new service holds great potential for tourism, culture, and business customers, and Air Samarkand aims to strengthen its commercial relationships in Turkey through this route.
The modern Airbus A321 of Air Samarkand is popular among leading global airlines due to its excellent safety record, reliability, and passenger comfort. Air Samarkand will be using the latest ‘neo’ variant of the A321, equipped with the new generation CFM International LEAP-1A engines that ensure a quiet flight experience. With a full economy-class cabin, the aircraft can accommodate 221 passengers. Additionally, Air Samarkand offers customers an unprecedented allowance of two checked bags weighing up to 23kg each, along with 8kg of carry-on cabin baggage.