Qanot Sharq Launches Direct Flights from Tashkent to New York

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Private Uzbek airline Qanot Sharq will begin direct flights between Tashkent and New York on 3 May 2026, becoming the first non-state carrier to serve this transcontinental route.

The flights are planned to operate twice a week, on Wednesdays and Sundays, using Airbus A330-200 wide-body aircraft configured in a two-class layout. Eastbound flights are expected to take approximately 13 hours and 10 minutes.

The entry of Qanot Sharq onto this route ends the long-standing dominance of the national carrier, Uzbekistan Airways, which currently operates up to five weekly flights between Tashkent and New York.

The launch of the new service is expected to enhance competition, offering passengers more options, potentially reducing fares, and improving scheduling flexibility.

Qanot Sharq aims to capitalize on growing demand from the Uzbek diaspora abroad, as well as increasing interest from international tourists in the Central Asian region.