Uzbekistan is reshaping its internal aviation landscape with a strategic expansion designed to weave together the country’s key tourism hubs. Starting in late June 2025, the country is rolling out new domestic routes that promise to reduce travel times between historic centers and strengthen regional economic ties.
New routes reshape internal connectivity
Centrum Air is spearheading this expansion with fresh routes connecting Samarkand and Urgench three times per week starting June 24, while launching twice-weekly services on Bukhara – Urgench, Samarkand – Bukhara, and Bukhara – Tashkent corridors from June 25. Meanwhile, the Tashkent – Urgench route already operates on a near-daily basis, with flights available six days a week, excluding Tuesdays.
This move follows broader efforts to boost domestic aviation. Earlier in 2025, Uzbekistan Airways and its subsidiary Silk Avia together already dominate 95 percent of internal flights, with limited private competition. The government has been pushing to address systemic challenges such as high ticket prices and limited availability, which previously discouraged both domestic and international visitors from traveling between regional destinations.
Regional economic integration through improved access
The expansion directly supports Uzbekistan’s broader objective to stimulate domestic tourism and foster regional development. By creating convenient connections between historically significant cities like Bukhara, Samarkand, and Urgench, the new routes address a critical bottleneck in the country’s travel infrastructure. Historically, insufficient aviation connectivity has been cited as a major obstacle to tourism growth, particularly in regions like Khorezm, where transport limitations have constrained visitor flows.
The initiative also reflects government efforts to increase flight frequency across the network. At a 2025 meeting, state authorities outlined plans to double domestic routes and introduce subsidies for all resident airlines to make tickets more affordable and routes more economically viable for private carriers.
Why this matters for international business
For international companies in tourism, hospitality, construction, and design sectors, improved internal aviation connectivity represents a significant market development signal. Better regional links translate into higher tourist arrivals, which drives demand for hotel renovations, restaurant design, and interior furnishings. The government’s commitment to expanding aviation infrastructure — coupled with infrastructure modernization projects underway at regional airports — creates opportunities for companies seeking to serve a growing market. Additionally, enhanced business travel conditions support international professionals and executives seeking to establish or expand operations across Uzbekistan’s regions, strengthening the investment climate for international business actors.
