Istanbul becomes the most popular business-class flight destination from Uzbekistan

Interest in business-class flights among travelers from Uzbekistan increased significantly between January and October 2026. Searches for business-class tickets rose by 41 percent compared with the same period last year. Travelers’ preferences also shifted, with Istanbul overtaking Moscow as the most popular destination and pushing the Russian capital into second place. Three Chinese cities also made it into the top ten most sought-after destinations.

These findings come from a study by Aviasales.uz, based on flight search data collected between January 1 and October 20, 2026. The analysis highlights changes in demand and trends in business-class airfares.

The average price of a one-way business-class ticket was $1,255, approximately 5 percent higher than last year. Flights to Almaty recorded the sharpest price increase, rising by 36 percent to $578. Meanwhile, tickets to Kuala Lumpur became 39 percent cheaper, averaging $989. The average fare to Istanbul was $1,010, compared with $1,206 for Moscow.

Overall, business-class flights cost travelers, on average, 4.2 times as much as economy-class flights. An economy-class ticket costs an average of $300, or around 3.6 million UZS. However, the price difference varies considerably by destination. On flights to Dubai, business-class tickets cost seven times as much as economy-class fares, while on flights to Moscow, they cost five times as much. For Paris, Hangzhou and Kuala Lumpur, the difference is approximately 2.5 times.

Demand grew fastest on flights to Istanbul, where business-class ticket purchases increased 3.6-fold over the year. This destination accounted for more than a quarter of all business-class ticket purchases.

Aziza Alimova, UzA