Singapore, Uzbekistan strengthen ties with new direct flight

SINGAPORE — Changi Airport yesterday received its first direct flight from Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, paving the way for a higher volume of tourist traffic between the two countries and helping more local businesses explore opportunities in Central Asia.

Flag carrier Uzbekistan Airways is the second new airline partnership that Changi Airport has forged this year, after the tie-up with China-based Yunnan Lucky Air in January. Tashkent is also Changi Airport’s second new city link this year after the launch of Lucky Air’s flight between Singapore and Guiyang.

Changi Airport Senior Vice-President of Market Development, Mr Lim Ching Kiat, said the partnership with Uzbekistan Airways is testament to Singapore’s position as an important air hub linking Central Asia to the Asia-Pacific region.

“Passenger traffic between Central Asia and South-east Asia and the Southwest Pacific has been registering good growth over the past three years and we believe there is tremendous growth potential for the new Uzbekistan Airways service,” he added.

The International Air Transport Association last December forecast Uzbekistan to be the fastest-growing market for international passenger traffic by 2017, ahead of countries such as Kazakhstan, Russia and China.

The news also comes amid growing bilateral ties between Singapore and Central Asia, with trade between the two more than doubling to S$28 million last year. Uzbekistan is one of the region’s fastest-growing economies, outperforming its neighbours since 2006.

“Singapore has held various business forums with Uzbekistan on a regular basis. This new service will foster stronger bilateral economic ties and people flow between the two countries,” said Changi Airport.