Samarkand, Uzbekistan, June 17, 2024 - A new direct service to Xi'an, the administrative centre of Shaanxi Province (China), has been launched from Samarkand International Airport.
The first flight, operated by Loong Air, landed at Samarkand at 12:08 local time yesterday (Sunday), and was given a traditional water cannon welcome upon arrival on the taxiway. Passengers, who included a delegation of airline executives, tour operators and representatives of the Chinese media, were also greeted with a traditional Uzbek welcome of karnaya and surnaya folk music.
Upon landing, the captain of the Airbus A320 aircraft, together with Lu Hongkun, General Director of Loong Air, Ulugbek Shamsikulov, General Director of Air Marakanda, Dmitry Martynenko. Air Marakanda’s Commercial Director, and Rustam Kobilov, Deputy Khokim of the Samarkand region responsible for tourism, culture, cultural heritage and mass communications, together cut a ribbon to mark the start of the Xi'an-Samarkand- Xi'an service.
A thematic photo zone in the new Samarkand airport terminal was set up for the newly arrived passengers and guests, alongside an Uzbek-style tea ceremony providing national treats, and an area for calligraphic inscriptions in Farsi, made on locally produced Samarkand mulberry paper.
Welcome speeches were given by management of Air Marakanda, the airport management company for Samarkand International Airport, by executives from Loong Air, as well as the Deputy Khokim Kobilov.
Mr. Shamsikulov said: “The opening of direct flights to Xi'an will have a positive impact on both the cultural and economic development linking our countries, as we begin to build the tourism potential of both cities.”
Flights on this route will be operated twice a week, on Wednesdays and Sundays, with an Airbus 320 aircraft designed to carry 174 passengers.
Additional information:
Xi'an is a city located in the Northwest region of China and is the administrative centre of Shaanxi Province. Modern Xi'an is an important cultural and historical centre, and a centre of innovative technologies. It has been officially awarded the title of ‘international metropolis’, placing it on a par with Shanghai and Beijing.
Zhejiang Loong Airlines Co. Ltd, operating passenger and cargo services as Loong Air, is a Chinese airline headquartered in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
AIR MARAKANDA is the ground handling and management operator of the new terminal of Samarkand International Airport, which was the first aviation project to be developed in a joint public-private partnership in the Republic of Uzbekistan. For two years in a row, the new international terminal has been among the top ten regional leaders in the Central Asian region of the international airport rating World Airport Awards (SKYTRAX).
