Summary
- Air Samarkand plans to expand its fleet with an all-Airbus lineup of A320, A321neo, and A330 aircraft for operational and maintenance efficiency.
- The airline expects to start scheduled operations in summer 2024, with plans so as to add routes to varied destinations in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
- Samarkand’s growing tourism industry and increasing air connectivity present ample opportunities for Air Samarkand to ascertain itself as a regional aviation leader.
Having recently inaugurated flights with a service to Istanbul and an Airbus A330, Air Samarkand is anticipating further growth across its network and fleet because it positions itself as the largest airline based in Uzbekistan’s second-largest city.
Easy Flying spoke to Chief Executive Officer Anton Khojayan to learn more concerning the airline. The 37-year-old has been a part of the Air Samarkand project since April 2022 and is well-versed in Uzbekistan’s aviation dynamics. Before joining Air Samarkand, he held management positions inside Uzbekistan Airways and Uzbekistan Airports.
Photo: Air Samarkand
An all-Airbus fleet
Chatting with Easy Flying, Khojayan noted that Air Samarkand could be expanding and maintaining an Airbus-only fleet consisting of Airbus A320 and A321neo, in addition to Airbus A330 aircraft. He said:
The aircraft that Air Samarkand operates are all used, having been with a wide range of different airlines prior to now. At present, the fleet is an Airbus A321-200 and an Airbus A330 aircraft, each delivered in November 2023 before the airline’s inaugural flight. The Airbus A321 is currently registered as N692AV and was previously with Avianca El Salvador. Meanwhile, the Airbus A330 aircraft was first delivered to China Airlines and is 13 years of age. It’s registered as UK33001 and operated the airline’s inaugural flight to Istanbul last month.
Air Samarkand expects to grow its fleet because it prepares for further expansion through 2024. In January, the airline will take delivery of two additional planes – an Airbus A321neo and an Airbus A320. Khojayan confirmed:
“Through the month of January, we expect delivery of two more lessor-owned aircraft, an A320 and A321neo, that are already configured and prepared for delivery.”
It is known that the Airbus A321neo already wears the Air Samarkand livery. The airline tells Easy Flying that each aircraft are also already configured. Flightradar24 data shows that the Airbus A321neo is registered OE-IHX and is awaiting re-registration. The current or future registration for the Airbus A320 is unknown.
Air Samarkand has not ruled out recent aircraft for its business. While the carrier has been counting on used equipment to service its routes for the short term, it plans to look to manufacturers to produce aircraft further down the road. Khojayan tells Easy Flying:
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Scheduled operations starting summer 2024
This fleet growth is available in anticipation of its scheduled operations, that are slated to start this summer. Currently, Air Samarkand offers charter flights to Istanbul and plans so as to add additional connections to other destinations in Asia.
(SAW) and hope to soon begin services to IST)
Additional amenities, including magazines, entertainment, pillows, and blankets, can even complement the launch of scheduled operations.
Air Samarkand currently offers hot meals and drinks and a full baggage allowance on its services. Within the lead-up to its scheduled operations launch, the airline is hiring flight attendants qualified to fly on the Airbus A330, aged between 18 and 30.
Photo: Air Samarkand
An expanding route network
Air Samarkand will launch scheduled routes to varied undefined destinations “from its Samarkand base.
Services to the UK and the USA haven’t been completely ruled out. That said, the CEO did hint on the non-viability of long-haul (arguably ultra-long-haul) services to the USA. When asked, Khojayan told Easy Flying:
Samarkand is a growing destination
Samarkand is Uzbekistan’s second-largest city after the the capital, Tashkent. Lately, tourism-geared expansion has propelled town’s economic development. It has develop into a pretty airline destination as a key location on the infamous Silk Road. Investments from the state and personal business owners, including Air Samarkand founder Bakhtiyor Fazilov, have contributed to this demand:
“Along with Air Samarkand, Mr Fazilov is supporting other large-scale investments within the Samarkand region, resembling the Silk Road Samarkand tourism complex. First-class infrastructure and visitor facilities now match our incredible natural and cultural treasures, providing Samarkand and Uzbekistan, as an entire, with almost limitless potential for future growth.”
Lately, other airlines, resembling Wizz Air Abu Dhabi and flydubai, have added connections to Samarkand. This includes flights from Abu Dhabi and Dubai, respectively. Samarkand has experienced rapid growth, primarily as a result of the event of the hospitality and tourism sectors and the rise in air connectivity. Air Samarkand can capitalize on this growth and further propel it. Khojayan tells us:
Photo: Air Samarkand
Khojayan highlights that Samarkand shouldn’t be only a tourist destination, nonetheless. Statistics published by the Uzbek government show that the population stands at around 550,000 people as of 2021.
“It is usually value making an allowance for the indisputable fact that, for other airlines, Samarkand is the ultimate destination, while for us, it’s the start line. Thus, Air Samarkand will find a way to supply more destinations for residents of the region, in addition to convenient connections in the long run for individuals who select Samarkand as a transfer destination.”
The long run is exciting for Air Samarkand and the remainder of the Uzbek aviation industry. Continued growth, particularly over the past decade, has ensured the industry’s profitability and potential, which all of the country’s recent airlines anticipate grabbing.
Uzbekistan’s growing market
Uzbekistan is a big market in the case of aviation, with an enormous territory and a population of roughly 35 million people. Many airlines have recently sprung up, including Panorama Airways in 2022, operating a single Airbus A320 to Dubai (United Arab Emirates) and Medina (Saudi Arabia). It supposedly also operates an Airbus A330 and had plans to buy 4 additional aircraft by the top of 2023, in keeping with local media, KUN.UZ.
Other airlines which have recently joined the Uzbek aviation market include Qanot Sharq Airlines, founded in 2021. It operates a fleet of Airbus aircraft much like Air Samarkand. It has a fleet of Airbus A320, Airbus A321neo, and Airbus A330 aircraft operating to Russia, Thailand, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. It anticipates almost doubling the scale of its network throughout 2024.
Wizz Air Expands Its Horizons With 1st Uzbekistan Route
Uzbekistan is the airline’s second country in Central Asia.
4 other airlines also recently joined the Uzbek aviation scene, including Centrum Air, Silk Avia, HUMO Air, and Air Samarkand. Air Samarkand is the one airline in Uzbekistan based in Samarkand.
What do you concentrate on Air Samarkand? Would you wish to try them?