Centrum Air Launches Hyderabad–Tashkent Flights: Direct Silk Road Gateway From South India 2026

Centrum Air has launched direct twice-weekly flights connecting Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport with Tashkent, expanding the Uzbek carrier’s Indian footprint to seven weekly services across Delhi and Hyderabad in under 12 months. Announced at an official diplomatic gala with the Embassy of Uzbekistan and GSA partner Aeroprime Group, this non-stop route unlocks an accessible Silk Road gateway for South Indian travelers, pharma traders, and cultural tourists.

The expansion marks a decisive milestone in Central Asian air connectivity. By establishing a direct link between Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD) and Islam Karimov Tashkent International Airport (TAS), Centrum Air provides travelers from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and broader South India with an efficient transit route that bypasses traditional layovers in Delhi or the Gulf.

The service was officially introduced during an executive trade showcase held at The Leela, Hyderabad, highlighted by a ceremonial diya lighting attended by H.E. Dr. Sardor Mirzayusupovich Rustambaev, Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to India, along with senior executives from the Uzbekistan Tourism Committee, Centrum Air, and Indian travel trade leaders.

The Local Trend Revealed: Rapid Growth of the India–Central Asia Air Corridor

Centrum Air’s entrance into Hyderabad solidifies one of the fastest international expansions by a foreign carrier in the Indian market. In less than a year since launching operations in India, the private Uzbek airline has scaled its schedule to seven weekly flights: five frequencies originating from Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi and two direct departures from Hyderabad.

The commercial rollout is spearheaded by Aeroprime Group, acting as Centrum Air’s Exclusive General Sales Agent (GSA) in India. Abhishek Goyal, Executive Director & CEO of Aeroprime Group, highlighted that Hyderabad's dual strength as an IT-pharmaceutical capital and a high-volume outbound leisure market creates exceptional baseline demand:

"The launch of direct Hyderabad–Tashkent connectivity marks another significant milestone in Centrum Air’s India growth story. Hyderabad has tremendous potential as an international aviation and commercial hub, and this new service will open up exciting opportunities for travellers, trade and tourism. With the launch of Hyderabad, Centrum Air will now operate seven weekly flights from India — five from Delhi and two from Hyderabad — achieved in less than a year of entering the Indian market. This rapid expansion reflects the airline’s strong confidence in the Indian market and the growing demand for connectivity between India and Central Asia."

Adil Mirza, Head of the Agents Division at Centrum Air, emphasized that the service is structured to serve diverse passenger segments:

"The launch of our Hyderabad–Tashkent service marks an important milestone in Centrum Air’s international expansion and our commitment to the Indian market. Hyderabad is a dynamic and strategically important market with strong potential for both business and leisure travel. We are delighted to connect Hyderabad directly with Tashkent and offer travellers greater access to Uzbekistan and onward destinations."

Route Operation	Weekly Frequency	Total India Network Footprint	Key Passenger Demographics
Hyderabad (HYD) ⇄ Tashkent (TAS)	Two weekly direct flights	Part of 7 weekly India services	Leisure tourists, MICE, pharma traders, students
Delhi (DEL) ⇄ Tashkent (TAS)	Five weekly direct flights	Established hub connection	Government, commercial & leisure travelers

Cultural & Environmental Value: Reviving Historic Silk Road Kinship

For cultural travelers, this direct air bridge unites two ancient trading civilizations that share centuries of culinary, linguistic, and architectural ties.

Hyderabad’s historical heritage under the Qutb Shahi and Asaf Jahi dynasties reflects profound Central Asian architectural and culinary influences. The turquoise domes and mosaic tilework of Samarkand’s Registan and Bukhara’s Po-i-Kalyan find visual echoes in Hyderabad's historic Qutb Shahi Tombs and Charminar. In the kitchen, the kinship between Hyderabadi Dum Biryani and traditional Uzbek plov (osh)—slow-cooked with yellow carrots, chickpeas, cumin, and tender lamb in massive cast-iron kazans—highlights centuries of shared gastronomic evolution rooted in the ancient Silk Road.

The flight also supports sustainable regional tourism. Travelers landing in Tashkent can connect directly to the electric Afrosiyob high-speed railway, which links the capital to Samarkand, Bukhara, and Navoiy without reliance on domestic short-haul flights or highway transfers. This rail integration channels tourism spending directly into local artisan cooperatives, UNESCO heritage restoration workshops, and family-operated guesthouses across historic oasis settlements.

Visitor Insider Tips: Navigating Uzbekistan from South India

Travelers embarking on this new route can optimize their Central Asian adventure with practical local advice:

• Simplified Visa Frameworks: Indian passport holders can secure an official 30-day single-entry or double-entry electronic visa (e-Visa) through the government portal (e-visa.gov.uz) within three working days, eliminating paperwork and in-person embassy visits.
• Mastering the Afrosiyob High-Speed Train: High-speed rail tickets connecting Tashkent to Samarkand (2 hours 15 minutes) and Bukhara (3 hours 45 minutes) sell out weeks in advance. Download the official Uzbekistan Railways app (Uzrailways) and book seats exactly 45 days before your travel date. For scenic slower travel, the night sleeper train to Khiva offers a classic Silk Road experience.
• Under-the-Radar Tashkent Exploration: Beyond the majestic madrasahs of the old city, explore the Tashkent Metro system. Built during the Soviet era with marble, chandeliers, and engraved bas-reliefs, stations like Kosmonavtlar (dedicated to space exploration) and Alisher Navoi represent stunning subterranean art galleries. Visit the massive dome of Chorsu Bazaar early in the morning to watch bakers pull circular non bread from clay tandoor ovens.
• Culinary Specialties and Dining Etiquette: In Tashkent, order wedding plov (to‘y oshi) at the Central Asian Plov Centre, paired with fresh achichuk (thinly sliced tomato and onion salad) and hot green tea (kok-chay). When dining in traditional tea houses (chaikhanas), always break flatbread with both hands as a sign of respect, and never place bread upside down on the table.
• Optimal Seasonal Travel Windows: The best periods to visit Uzbekistan are autumn (mid-September to early November) and spring (April to May). Autumn brings comfortable daytime temperatures (18°C to 24°C), minimal rainfall, and bountiful harvest markets filled with sweet Samarkand pomegranates, dried figs, and melons.

Tourism Outlook: Deepening Bilateral Mobility

The launch of Centrum Air's direct Hyderabad–Tashkent service accelerates a major realignment in Indian outbound tourism. With flight times under four hours, Uzbekistan offers Indian travelers an exotic, culturally rich heritage destination that avoids long-haul flight fatigue.

By connecting southern India’s premier commercial engine with Central Asia's largest metropolis, Centrum Air and Aeroprime Group have established an air bridge that strengthens educational mobility, fuels pharmaceutical trade, and deepens intercultural tourism exchanges for years to come.

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