Samarkand International Airport has expanded its route network with new direct services to Baku and Krasnoyarsk starting April 1.
Azerbaijan Airlines will operate twice-weekly flights between Samarkand and Baku on Wednesdays and Sundays, with departures from Samarkand scheduled for 2:55am.
The journey to the Azerbaijan capital will take approximately two hours and 20 minutes.
Ural Airlines will launch a once-weekly service between Samarkand and Krasnoyarsk in Eastern Siberia, operating on Tuesdays.
Flights from Krasnoyarsk will depart at 11:40am, arriving in Samarkand at 1:40pm local time, with return flights leaving Samarkand at 3:00pm and landing in Krasnoyarsk at 8:35pm local time.
Ulugbek Shamsikulov, CEO of Air Marakanda, the airport management company for Samarkand airport, said: “After record breaking growth and passenger figures in 2024, we will begin the summer season with important new services to Baku and Krasnoyarsk. These flight connections will strengthen the cultural, tourist and business ties between Uzbekistan and these two important countries, while providing passengers with convenient and affordable air transport links.”
The four-hour Krasnoyarsk service connects Samarkand with what is described as the largest economic, educational and cultural centre of the East Siberian Federal District.
Samarkand International Airport was recently named the fastest growing airport in Europe and Central Asia by the Airports Council International.
The facility handled 1.38 million passengers in 2024, representing growth of 36.6% compared to the previous year.
This growth rate was reportedly twice as high as the second fastest growing airport in the region.
Both new routes are expected to enhance tourism and business connections between the regions.
Tickets for the new services are available on the respective airline websites and at the Samarkand International Airport ticket office.
