Starting June 1, 2023, the private airline Qanot Sharq will begin operating regular direct flights from Samarkand to Istanbul.

According to the Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan, flights on this route will operate three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Departure from Samarkand is scheduled for 7:00 local time.

Qanot Sharq was established in 1998 and positions itself as Uzbekistan's first private air carrier. In 2003-2012, the company leased IL-76 aircraft from Uzbekistan Airways and operated its charter flights.

After the relaunch in 2019, Qanot Sharq engaged in charter and regular passenger transportation. In 2022, the carrier's fleet was replenished with Airbus A321neo, acquired on lease from the American Air Lease Corporation.

Roman Bondarchuk, UzA