Etihad Airways performs inaugural flight to Tashkent
Etihad Airways has launched daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Tashkent, giving travellers in Uzbekistan direct access to the UAE carrier’s international hub.
The new service will operate on single-aisle Airbus A320 jets, with the first flight landing in Tashkent early Monday morning. The launch creates a new direct link between the capitals of the UAE and Uzbekistan.
Flights from Abu Dhabi leave at 9.10pm, arriving in Tashkent at 1.35am the following day. The return service departs Tashkent at 3.50am and arrives in Abu Dhabi at 6.35am.
Etihad’s arrival was an important addition to Uzbekistan’s international aviation market, and the daily Abu Dhabi service would support business and tourism and give passengers easier access to onward connections through the UAE capital, Uzbekistan Airports said.
«Etihad Airways is one of the world’s leading carriers, and the arrival of such a partner in Tashkent opens up new opportunities for passengers and strengthens Uzbekistan’s position on the international aviation map,» the airport operator said.
Linking Uzbekistan to Etihad’s global network
The route provides the opportunity for Uzbek passengers to connect to Etihad’s wider network via Abu Dhabi, including destinations across Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia and North America. Etihad and Uzbekistan Airways have also entered into a codeshare agreement, allowing passengers to book a single ticket to eight Uzbek cities beyond Tashkent, including Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Nukus and Fergana.
The launch is earlier than expected. Etihad had planned to start its Abu Dhabi-Tashkent service on 17 August, but the airline brought the launch date forward by one week and introduced a daily operation from day one, Uzbekistan’s Transport Ministry said.
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