WNAM MONITORING: Air Samarkand has successfully operated its inaugural passenger flight from Samarkand to Jeddah, marking a new milestone in the airline’s operations by supporting religious pilgrims.
The carrier’s Airbus A321neo aircraft departed from Samarkand on Tuesday. From now on, the airline will operate two return flights to Jeddah every Tuesday.
Air Samarkand’s CEO, Zafar Butaev, commented: “We are proud to offer our passengers new opportunities for travel and spiritual growth with new flights that strengthen the ties between Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia. There is growing interest worldwide in Islamic cultural tourism, so we are meeting that need with these new services, which will build on the unique historical legacy and ties between our two countries”.
“We are delighted to see Air Samarkand’s entry into our coastal city of Jeddah from Samarkand. New flights will further help to grow connectivity to our largest airport of KSA and grow inbound tourism from the Uzbek market to Saudi Arabia”, said Mr Mazen Johar, CEO of JEDCO, and Mr Majid Khan, CEO of the Air Connectivity Program.
“Uzbekistan, with its central geographical location in Central Asia, is a highly underserved market for Saudi Arabia. We welcome Air Samarkand’s entry to Jeddah and look forward to promoting Saudi Arabia’s untouched wonders to tourists from Uzbekistan,” says Mr. Hazim Alhazmi, President of the Saudi Tourism Authority’s Europe and America Markets.
The inaugural flights to the King Abdulaziz International Airport significantly strengthen aviation links between Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia. The opening of this new route is a noteworthy event for Uzbek Muslims, providing, as it does, a convenient way to visit the most revered holy sites in the Islamic world.
Passengers on the first flight praised the check-in process at the airport, the airline’s service, and the overall flight experience, commending the attentive care of the flight attendants and the halal meals provided.
Jeddah, a true gem of the Arab world, is the second-largest city in Saudi Arabia and its ‘economic capital’. Besides being a pilgrimage destination, the city is of considerable interest to tourists, with its Corniche resort area stretching along the Red Sea coast, featuring luxurious hotels, beaches, and shopping centers. The legendary King Fahd Fountain is also located there, while the historic Al-Balad district, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, preserves traditional coral stone buildings.
Air Samarkand also plans flights to Medina, starting from Samarkand next month (August 2024) using Airbus A330 aircraft. The flights are operated in partnership with Uzbekistan’s EasyBooking agency.
The new services underline Air Samarkand’s continued development and the steady expansion of its route network. In addition to new flights to Saudi Arabia, the airline operates direct flights to Istanbul, services to Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt, and Nha Trang in Vietnam using Airbus A321neo and A330-300 aircraft.
