DRMumbai: Uzbekistan Airways will fly three times weekly direct between capital city Tashkent and Mumbai starting October 30. Delmos Aviation has been appointed the GSA for passenger sales in India.
In early October, a delegation led by Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Uzbekistan, was in India for his first State visit. With 17 agreements for cooperation across various sectors signed between the two nations, the visit was a great success.
Addressing the media after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Mirziyoyev had said, “We have agreed to closely cooperate in the sphere of developing a new transport connectivity corridor,” adding that the strategic partnership with India is “one of the most important priorities” of Uzbekistan.
India and Uzbekistan have long heritage dating back centuries – common history, traditions and culture. The two nations highlighted their mutual history by cementing a partnership between the cities of Agra and Samarkand as they discussed ways to scale up bilateral ties.
Babur, the founder of the Mughal empire in India, is believed to have come to India from the Fergana valley in Uzbekistan. Legend has it that Babur established Agra as the capital of the Mughal empire in India. Samarkand was a prominent city on the Great Silk Road, the ancient trade route linking China to the Mediterranean. Indian merchants based in Samarkand were an integral part of the local economy. Of late, Bollywood movies have garnered a major fan following in Uzbekistan.
“We see India as an important strategic partner and a big source market for tourism because many Indians are travelling abroad these days for leisure and business,” said Farhod Arziev, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to India while addressing the travel trade and media in Mumbai recently. “We hope to go daily soon with our direct flights to Mumbai. This shows that our people-to-people contacts are expanding and also helps enhance our tourism cooperation.”
Uzbekistan Airways is the only airline that flies Dreamliners in Central Asia and connects direct to New York from the region. The inaugural fare offering connections to cities in Russia and Europe are quite attractive at below Rs. 50,000 for economy class.
“Tashkent airport has a swanky new business lounge, the menu has been revamped for both business and economy classes by a Michelin-star chef and offers Hindu, Jain and Kosher meal options, and the e-visa takes just 48 working hours and does not require to sent the passport,” informed Charu Makin, Director, Delmos Aviation.
Many tourists visit the country because of their interest in the architectural and historical sites of Uzbekistan. Many others observe its culture, way of life and customs. Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva are hotspots of tourism.
Tourist activities in Uzbekistan range from outdoor activities, such as mountaineering, hiking and rock-climbing, to exploration of its rich archaeological and religious history. The many museums of Uzbekistan store over two million artefacts, evidence of the unique historical, cultural and spiritual life of the Central Asian people. Delmos Aviation will also be responsible for marketing Uzbekistan as a destination in India.
