Samarkand, Uzbekistan, 30th July 2024:

Air Samarkand has operated an 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 today (Tuesday), at 0:05am and arrived in Jeddah at 03:10am local time, carrying 188 passengers to a city renowned for being a gathering point for pilgrims travelling to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. Some 119 passengers joined the return leg from Jeddah to Samarkand.

A further flight is scheduled for later today, departing Samarkand at 15:00pm and arriving in Jeddah at 18:20pm local time. Hereon, 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.”

Mr Mazen Johar, CEO of Jeddah Airports Company (JEDCO) and Mr Majid Khan, CEO of the Saudi Air Connectivity Program, said: “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.”

Mr. Hazim Alhazmi President – Europe and America Markets for the Saudi Tourism Authority said: “With its central geographical location in Central Asia, Uzbekistan 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.”

The inaugural flights to the King Abdulaziz International Airport represent a significant step in strengthening 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 underlines 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, as well as services to Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt, and Nha Trang in Vietnam using Airbus A321neo and A330-300 aircraft.