November 2, 2023, Samarkand. Air Marakanda, which operates the new terminal at Samarkand International Airport, has accepted and serviced the first flight of Air Samarkand, the first base carrier for the airport. This event became a landmark for both the airline and the airport, as well as for the entire city, since no air carrier had previously been based in the air harbor.
On November 2, at 17:30 local time, the first aircraft in the fleet of the new Air Samarkand airline, Airbus A330–300, landed at Samarkand Airport. The arrival of the aircraft took place during the visit of the Presidents of the Republic of Uzbekistan and France to Samarkand. The aircraft was greeted with a traditional water arch.
The launch of the new airline is a significant event for the Samarkand region. The new airline will operate flights to the most popular international destinations. The main goal of Air Samarkand is to provide residents of Samarkand and neighboring regions with the opportunity to travel directly to different countries, and guests of the country to visit Samarkand, bypassing intermediate points.
"The launch of the new airline is a significant event for the future development of Samarkand as a tourist, cultural and business center," said Bakhtiyor Fazylov, founder of Air Samarkand. — We are pleased to welcome the first Air Samarkand aircraft, it will operate competitive direct flights with safe and high-quality service to the most popular international destinations.
Over the past year, we have implemented a large–scale project - the Silk Road Samarkand Tourist Center, which has already begun to bring the tourism potential of the region to a qualitatively new level, combining ancient heritage with modern infrastructure and facilities.
This development will continue with the launch of Air Samarkand services, which will soon directly connect the ancient city with major tourist and commercial centers."
In the autumn-winter period, the airline plans regular and charter flights from Samarkand to a number of foreign destinations, including cities in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Turkey and China. Ark Samarkand pays special attention to flight safety, comfort and service for passengers.
"Our team has done everything possible to bring this solemn day closer. In the near future, I am sure our compatriots will be able to appreciate the high level of service that we are also working on," said Air Samarkand CEO A. A. Khodjayan. — This is an exciting and long-awaited moment for the airline and for the city. The Airbus A330 is a popular car, so it was quite difficult to find and purchase an aircraft that would meet our high requirements. But we succeeded."
The Airbus A330 is a modern and reliable aircraft used by the world's leading airlines. They provide exceptional comfort for passengers even on the longest routes. The aircraft is designed to carry 277 passengers in tourist class and 36 in business class, providing non-stop flights with a range of over 11,500 km.
"Air Marakanda is pleased to start cooperation with our first base carrier. We welcome Air Samarkand, which will soon open up great opportunities for residents of the city and nearby regions to travel to completely new destinations from our airport. For our part, we guarantee our base airline a high–level service, and the airline's passengers a comfortable stay at the terminal of Samarkand International Airport," said Sezayi Bayram, First Deputy General Director of Air Marakanda.
Air Samarkand is part of a large overall development project of the Samarkand region, within the framework of which a new airport has already been built in the city, the Samarkand Silk Road Samarkand Tourist Center, and a number of other facilities are being built. As the past year has shown, the large-scale project has already brought the tourism potential of the region to a new level and continues to develop in this direction.
In the coming days, Air Samarkand expects the arrival of a second aircraft: it will be an Airbus A321, designed for medium-range routes. In total, the company plans to receive and put into operation up to 5 aircraft by the end of 2023.
