Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — FlyArystan to Launch Direct Urgench–Almaty Flights, Unlocking Gateway to UNESCO-Listed Khiva
Kazakhstan's budget carrier FlyArystan will begin direct service between Urgench and Almaty on September 3, 2026, adding a new air corridor linking Uzbekistan's ancient Khorezm region to Central Asia's largest financial hub.
Flights will operate twice weekly — on Thursdays and Sundays — offering travelers, business passengers, and diaspora communities a direct connection that previously required routing through other cities.
The route carries particular strategic weight for tourism. Urgench serves as the primary aviation gateway to Khiva, one of Central Asia's most celebrated historic destinations and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. By connecting the region directly to Almaty's international transit network, FlyArystan positions the new service as a feeder route for inbound tourism to Uzbekistan's Khorezm region.
Passengers will also benefit from onward connections via Almaty across the carrier's broader international network.
The Urgench–Almaty launch marks a further expansion of FlyArystan's Uzbekistan footprint. The airline, a wholly owned subsidiary of Air Astana, already operates the Almaty–Samarkand and Astana–Tashkent routes since entering service in 2019. The addition of Urgench reflects growing bilateral air travel demand between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan as both countries pursue deeper economic and tourism integration across the region.
