China, Uzbekistan launch direct passenger flight Details

A direct passenger flight linking Kashgar in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region with the Uzbek capital Tashkent was launched on January 15.

The inaugural flight ended the long absence of direct air links between the two cities and reduced travel time to approximately two hours, significantly improving cross-border accessibility between western China and Central Asia, Caliber.Az reports per Chinese media. 

The route, operated as flight 7Q3166/3167, will run once a week in both directions using an Airbus A320 aircraft.

The new service comes amid growing people-to-people exchanges between China and Uzbekistan, following the introduction of a mutual visa-free travel regime last year. Travel agencies in Kashgar say they have already received a surge in inquiries from local residents interested in short trips to Central Asian destinations, including weekend travel.

Kashgar Laining International Airport has been steadily expanding its network in recent years. 

By Sabina Mammadli