Direct Hyderabad-Tashkent flights to boost tourism, pharma and healthcare links: Envoy
Hyderabad is set to gain a direct air connection to Tashkent, a move that Uzbekistan’s ambassador to India says will act as an “air bridge” between Uzbekistan and southern India. The new service, operated by Uzbekistan-based private airline Centrum Air, is scheduled to begin on September 28.
The airline will operate flights from Hyderabad every Monday and Thursday, with return services from Tashkent every Tuesday and Friday, offering two weekly connections between the two cities.
Speaking at the launch event, Ambassador Sardor Mirzayusupovich Rustambaev said the route represents more than the addition of another commercial air service. He said it would help strengthen ties between India and Uzbekistan in sectors including tourism, business, healthcare, education and technology.
The Ambassador’s remarks follow the recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during which the two countries agreed to deepen cooperation in several areas. “Greater connectivity and uninterrupted air services would be an important foundation for achieving these goals, particularly as the two countries look to deepen cooperation in high technology, pharmaceuticals, digitalisation, renewable energy and critical minerals,” he said.
Centrum Air is also positioning the route as a gateway for travellers from across southern and western India, rather than a simple point-to-point service. Adil Mirza, head of the airline’s agents division, said travel agencies in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Kerala are being encouraged to use Hyderabad for passengers travelling to Uzbekistan and beyond.
Tashkent, he added, could serve as a transit hub. Centrum Air’s network provides onward connections to destinations in Central Asia, Russia, the Middle East and Europe, including Almaty, Bishkek, Baku, Tbilisi and Frankfurt.
Hyderabad’s pharmaceutical and healthcare industries are expected to be among the main beneficiaries of the new connection. Ambassador Rustambaev noted that Hyderabad is a major pharmaceutical, medical and technology hub, making it a city of strategic interest for Uzbekistan. The direct flight is expected to make it easier for Uzbek citizens to travel to Hyderabad for advanced medical treatment.
The airline is also looking at cargo opportunities in Hyderabad’s pharmaceutical ecosystem. Mr. Mirza said Indian medical products account for around 50% of Uzbekistan’s pharmaceutical market, with an estimated 30-40% of that supply coming from Hyderabad itself.
Beyond healthcare, the Uzbek side is keen to strengthen links with Hyderabad’s technology ecosystem. The Ambassador said Uzbekistan is in the midst of a digital transformation and is interested in attracting Indian IT companies, start-ups and academic institutions.
Education is another area expected to generate passenger traffic. Ambassador Rustambaev said there is growing interest among Indian students in pursuing higher education in Uzbekistan, particularly in medicine and engineering.
The new air link is seen as an important step in boosting people-to-people contact and economic cooperation between India and Uzbekistan, with both sides expressing optimism about the potential of the route.
