Changi Airport welcomes the arrival of Uzbekistan Airways

New link now connects Singapore directly to Central Asia 

SINGAPORE, 4 April 2014 – Singapore Changi Airport today welcomed the arrival of Uzbekistan Airways, making the launch of Singapore’s first direct air link to Central Asia.  The national carrier of the Republic of Uzbekistan will operate a twice-weekly service between Tashkent and Singapore, through a circular routing with Kuala Lumpur, utilising a 247-seat Boeing 767-300 aircraft in a two-class configuration^[1].

To commemorate this new link, Mr Akmal Akbarov, First Deputy General Director of Uzbekistan Airways and Mr Nabijon Kasimov, the Chairman of the Association of Private Touristic Organisations of Uzbekistan, were on board the inaugural flight that arrived at Changi at 0807 hours.  They were welcomed by Mr Alisher Kurmanov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Republic of Korea (former Ambassador to Singapore), and Mr Wong Woon Liong, Senior Advisor of Changi Airport Group. 

Uzbekistan Airways and Tashkent are respectively the second carrier and second new city link this year for Changi Airport.  This follows the launch of a service to Guiyang by Lucky Air in January.

Promoting business and tourism

The new Tashkent-Singapore service opens up business and tourism opportunities into the respective hinterlands.  From its Tashkent hub, Uzbekistan Airways provides travellers direct and quick access to Central Asia and the Russian Siberian Federal District through its extensive regional flight network.  Likewise, Singapore provides travellers from Central Asia a strategic gateway to Southeast Asia and Southwest Pacific, with over 50 city links and close to 2,000 weekly services. 

Uzbekistan is among Central Asia’s most rapidly developing economies.  Since 2006, the country’s GDP growth has performed better than those of developing European and Central Asian markets^[2].  With its robust economic growth, the International Air Transport Association has forecast Uzbekistan to be the fastest growing marketfor international passenger traffic by 2017. 

Bilateral trade between Singapore and Central Asia

In recent years, there has been a growing interest amongst Singapore businesses to explore commercial opportunities in Central Asia, resulting in a strong increase in bilateral trade, which more than doubled in 2013 to S$28 million^[3].  Furthermore, Singapore has held various business forums with Uzbekistan on a regular basis.  This new service will foster stronger bilateral economic ties and people flow between the two countries.

Changi Airport Group’s Senior Vice-President for Market Development, Mr Lim Ching Kiat said, “We are delighted to welcome Uzbekistan Airways to Changi with its twice-weekly service from Tashkent to Singapore.  This marks a significant milestone for Singapore and Changi Airport, as it establishes the first air bridge between Singapore and Central Asia, reaffirming our status as an important air hub linking Central Asia and the Asia-Pacific region.  Passenger traffic between Central Asia and Southeast Asia/Southwest Pacific has been registering good growth over the last three years and we believe there is tremendous growth potential for the new Uzbekistan Airways service.  We will continue to work with the airline to realise its growth aspirations in Asia.”

The “Star of the Orient”  

Holiday-makers in Singapore now have even more interesting itineraries to consider, including journeying along the Silk Routes to Tashkent and other historical Uzbek cities like Bukhara, Khiva and Samarkand.  Tashkent, for example, has a history of more than 2,000 years on the Great Silk Road stretching from China to Southern Europe.  Also known as the “Star of the Orient”, it is the largest city, and the economic and cultural heart of Central Asia.  Tashkent is also famous for its exceptionally valuable and captivating architecture, intertwined with Central Asia and European traditions from the late 18^th century. 

Uzbekistan Airways’ new Singapore service provides travellers with unparalleled access to 10 other domestic points and to key cities in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.  The airline will operate at Changi Airport’s Terminal 1 with the following schedule:

* Via Kuala Lumpur

To celebrate its commencement of operations at Changi Airport, Uzbekistan Airways is offering promotional fares for return economy class tickets starting from S$979.  Fares exclude all applicable fees and surcharges, and terms and conditions apply.  Details are available at www.changiairport.com/uzairways.

[1] Business and Economy classes
[2] Source: World Bank
[3] Source: IE Singapore