Air Samarkand Introduces New Route from Tashkent to Al Ain
The inaugural flight, which was nearly full with 195 passengers and lasted three hours and 40 minutes, took off on Sunday, September 22, aboard an Airbus A321.
Air Samarkand has launched a new weekly service connecting Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, with Al Ain, the ‘Garden City’ of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The inaugural flight took off on Sunday, September 22, carrying nearly full capacity with 195 passengers and lasting three hours and 40 minutes aboard an Airbus A321. The aircraft features 12 spacious business class seats and 182 comfortable economy class seats, ensuring a pleasant travel experience.
Al Ain is the fourth-largest city in the UAE and the largest inland city in the country. It serves as a significant cultural center, playing an important role in the nation’s history.
“We are excited to add another destination and a new country to our flight map, which we are confident will become popular among both tourists and business travelers,” said Zafar Butaev, CEO of Air Samarkand.
This latest development follows Air Samarkand’s expansion of services to Istanbul earlier in September, increasing to three return flights per week. It marks the airline’s steady growth in its route network. In late July, the carrier began flights to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to support religious pilgrims, increasing frequency to five flights per week by September—two from Samarkand and one each from the Uzbek cities of Termez, Fergana, and Namangan. Air Samarkand also serves Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt and Nha Trang in Vietnam, utilizing Airbus A321neo and A330-300 aircraft.
Flights to Al Ain are operated in partnership with the tour operator EasyBooking, which offers quick and convenient transfers from Al Ain Airport to selected hotels in Abu Dhabi or Dubai. Initially, flights will operate once a week on Sundays:
Departure from Tashkent: 10:40, arriving in Al Ain at 13:20 (local time).
Departure from Al Ain: 15:00, arriving in Tashkent at 19:40 (local time).
Known as the ‘Garden City’ because of its lush greenery, with city oases, parks and tree-lined avenues, Al Ain is also renowned for its fountains and historical landmarks including the Al Jahili Fort and the famous Al Ain Oasis. Other attractions include the Al Ain National Museum, its zoo, an amusement park called ‘Hili Fun City’, several restored forts and the Hill Archaeological Park site that dates to the Bronze Age.
Elsewhere, Wadi Adventure provides water-based activities including surfing, kayaking and rafting, while the Mount Hafeet and the nearby ‘beehive’ tombs are part of ‘Jebel Hafeet Desert Park’, which preserves the nature and geology of the area.
Al Ain Airport is located almost equal distances from the popular destinations of Abu Dhabi and Dubai (155 km and 130 km, respectively), and will prove popular for those choosing to explore multiple destinations in the fast-emerging UAE.
In the future, as part of its continued network expansion, Air Samarkand plans to launch flights to Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) and Dubai International Airport (DXB), offering even more opportunities for business and tourist travelers.
Last Updated on September 26, 2024 by Staff Writer
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