Air Marakanda and China Southern Airlines have joined forces, allowing the first flight between Samarkand and Urumqi to take off. This marks the first time an airline has operated a route between the two locations.
To commemorate the event, a special ceremony was held at Samarkand International Airport. Passengers were treated to a photo area, tea ceremony, and calligraphy inscriptions in Chinese on Samarkand mulberry paper.
The press conference featured the participation of Air Marakanda CEO Anton Khojayan, Air Marakanda Deputy CEO for Commerce Artyom Pak, Head of Samarkand regional branch of the Civil Service Development Agency under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Rustam Kobilov and Director General of the representative office of China Southern Airlines in Tashkent Shen Yi.
The potential of air travel between Samarkand and Urumqi was discussed, as well as the prospects for developing tourism and trade between the two countries. It was announced that new routes from China to Samarkand will be launched in the near future.
The launch of direct flights from China to Samarkand is a modern-day revival of the ancient Silk Road.