- Monday, April 29, 2024
The flights will be operational on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
By: Shubham Ghosh
APRIL 2 witnessed a milestone as the inaugural direct flight from Mumbai, India’s financial capital, to Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, was ceremonially flagged off by the Uzbek ambassador to India, Sardor Rustambaev, and Vijay Kalantri, the honorary consul of Uzbekistan in the South Asian nation.
The new launch means Uzbekistan Airways JSC, the national carrier of the Central Asian republic, now has bi-weekly direct flights between Mumbai and Tashkent on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
The first flight will take off from Mumbai at 5 40 am local time every Tuesday and reach the Uzbek capital at 9.10 am local time. It will depart from Tashkent at 11.20 pm local time and reach Mumbai at 4.10 am local time.
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The second flight, which will be operational every Saturday, will leave Mumbai at 3.05 pm local time and land in Tashkent at 6.35 pm local time. The Tashkent-Mumbai flight will take off at 8.50 am local time and reach Mumbai at 1.40 pm local time.
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The airline has been operating regular flights to New Delhi for over two decades now, and currently operating daily flights to Tashkent with onward connections to Europe, US, Middle East and all of Central Asia.
The airline has deployed its A320neo aircraft on the Mumbai route.
“The allure of Uzbekistan lies in its blend of ancient Silk Road wonders and Soviet-era legacies. Travelers can immerse themselves in the country’s enchanting atmosphere boasting a tapestry of architectural marvels including glittering minarets, intricate mosaics, and majestic domes,” Rustambaev said at the flagging-off event in Mumbai.
The growing trade and commerce between the two nations has spurred the need for a direct flight from Mumbai to Tashkent and back and will also encourage tourists to savour the unique fusion of classical Russian architecture alongside remnants of Soviet-era constructions in the Central Asian nation.
“One cannot overlook Uzbekistan’s vibrant markets, where centuries-old traditions come to life through exquisite handicrafts, ceramics, and textiles. From intricate needlework to vibrant silk cloth, these markets offer a treasure trove of souvenirs for travellers to cherish,” Kalantri said.
The non-stop flights, which will take three hours to cover the distance between the Indian and Uzbek cities, will also promote tourism by opening up a gateway to ancient destinations such as Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva and others.
