Air Samarkand will launch new services to Tbilisi and Batumi in Georgia, and to Baku in Azerbaijan, while also increasing scheduled operations to the Turkish capital of Istanbul and Tel Aviv, the capital of Israel. Zafar Butayev, CEO of Air Samarkand, said: “These latest route developments will support growing customer demand for new and enhanced services on our Air Samarkand route network. All provide connections where we have seen rising demand or identified clear opportunities to establish new routes for tourist, pilgrim and business travellers. We are meeting increased demand for convenient and competitive direct services to link our historic city of Samarkand and Tashkent with important neighbouring markets and destinations further afield.”
New developments are:
- Tbilisi and Batumi: new charters from Tashkent to the two largest cities in Georgia: On May 18, Air Samarkand operated a first flight from Tashkent to Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, and from May 24 will also connect to country’s second largest city and Black Sea resort of Batumi, again operating from and to Tashkent. These destinations are carried out via charter programmes with the tour operator EasyBooking. They offer passengers attractive tour packages that include flights, transfers and accommodation. Starting in June, there will be an increased number of weekly services – departing for Tbilisi on Thursdays and Sundays, while Batumi will be served three times a week from June 9, with flights departing on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Georgia is one of the most popular tourist destinations for residents of Uzbekistan. Its mild climate, traditional food and hospitality, and the absence of visa formalities make Georgia especially attractive for summer holidays.
- Samarkand and Tashkent connections with Baku: new routes to the capital of Azerbaijan: Regular flights to Baku will start from June 6, with departures from Samarkand every Friday and two a week from Tashkent, leaving every Tuesday and Thursday. A bright metropolis, where antiquity is harmoniously combined with cultural and architectural modernity, Baku and Azerbaijan have long been united with Uzbekistan by ties of friendship, partnership and cultural exchange.
- Samarkand-Istanbul-Samarkand: even more flights to the Turkish capital: Starting from May 26, Air Samarkand will increase the frequency of flights on the Samarkand-Istanbul route from three to five times a week. Flights will operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, providing passengers with convenience and flexibility when planning their trips to one of the world’s most popular cities.
- Samarkand-Tel Aviv-Samarkand: increase in direct services between Uzbekistan and Israel: Air Samarkand opened flights on the Samarkand-Tel Aviv route on May 4 with the first direct connection from Samarkand to the business and cultural centre of Israel. It will add a second weekly service from July 3 to meet rising demand from passengers flying in both directions. Flights currently operate on Sundays, and from July 3 a second weekly flight will operate every Thursday, providing more flexibility for tourists, business travellers and pilgrims.
The new services will be operated with Air Samarkand’s Airbus A330 (with 313 seats) or Airbus A321 (194 seats), or Airbus A321neo (221 seats) aircraft.
Cathay Pacific returns to Adelaide
Cathay Pacific is adding another destination to its Southwest Pacific network this winter with the return of non-stop flights between Hong Kong and Adelaide starting 11 November 2025. The three-times-weekly winter seasonal service resumes an important connection between the airline’s home hub and the South Australian capital, providing more choices for customers travelling between Hong Kong, the Southwest Pacific and beyond. Adelaide will be Cathay Pacific’s eighth destination in the Southwest Pacific, with the airline also operating year-round services between Hong Kong and Auckland, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, and winter seasonal services to Cairns and Christchurch.
Cathay Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau said: “We are thrilled to be reconnecting our home hub with Adelaide, a bustling city that holds particular significance for Cathay Pacific. We first launched passenger flights to the South Australian capital in 1992, and then two years later our first batch of cadet pilots arrived in the city to complete their flight training, marking the start of our more than three-decade collaboration with Flight Training Adelaide. With our return to Adelaide, we will be operating close to 90 return flights per week to eight destinations in the Southwest Pacific at the peak of this winter season, providing a great many choices for our customers travelling between the region and our home hub. Whether they are travelling for business, leisure or to visit friends and relatives, we look forward to welcoming customers onboard and experiencing our signature Cathay Pacific service.”
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