United Explores Future Service to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

United CEO Scott Kirby said Patrick Quayle, the airline’s senior vice president for global network planning and alliances, visited Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in 2026 for preliminary exploration. Kirby said United cannot serve the region today because the airline cannot fly over Russia, but described the possibility as one that could work in the future.

Key details

• United does not currently operate flights to Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan.
• United’s visit to both countries was preliminary exploration, Kirby said.

United has operated no flights to Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan, and Scott Kirby said Russian airspace restrictions currently prevent service.

Why it matters

The visit puts Central Asia on United’s network-planning radar, while Russian airspace restrictions shape the routes the airline can consider. Uzbekistan already has nonstop service to New York from Uzbekistan Airways, while Kazakhstan has no nonstop US service, according to the reported information.