Istanbul established itself as the premier transit destination for passengers flying out of Uzbekistan. According to recent flight data analysed by Aviasales.uz for 2026, the Turkish metropolis is the most frequently used connecting point for Uzbek holidaymakers and business travellers alike.
The gateway to the West
The statistics indicate that nearly 19% of all transit flights originating in Uzbekistan currently pass through Istanbul. Aviation analysts attribute this overwhelming preference to the city’s highly convenient layover times and its extensive network of onward routes covering Europe, the Middle East and the Americas.
Securing the second and third spots on the list are Moscow and Baku. These cities handle approximately 11% and 10% of the passenger traffic respectively. Both locations remain traditional and popular transfer choices for Uzbek travellers heading towards destinations within the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and mainland Europe.
The rise of Asian and Gulf routes
Alongside traditional European and CIS routes, Asian transit points are experiencing a noticeable surge in popularity. Beijing has emerged as a leading hub in the region. When combined with other major Chinese cities such as Urumqi, Guangzhou and Xi’an, destinations in China now account for over 20% of all connecting flights from Uzbekistan.
Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates continues to hold a formidable share of the international transit market. The combined passenger traffic flowing through Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi provides nearly a fifth of all connecting flights for the country.
The Aviasales.uz report also highlighted several other notable transfer points that are gaining traction among passengers, rounding out the list with Warsaw, Seoul, Almaty and Riga.
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