Dubai-based flydubai is expanding its reach in Central Asia, adding flights to the historic city of Samarkand in Uzbekistan. It will be the carrier's second Uzbek destination, building on the existing route to Tashkent.

From September 20, flydubai will operate the twice-weekly service from Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Samarkand International airport (SKD). Flight FZ 1945 will depart Dubai at 22:40 on Tuesday and Friday and arrive at Samarkand at 02:50 the following day. It will return as Flight 1946, departing Samarkand at 04:05 and arriving back in Dubai at 06:30. Emirates is operating a codeshare on this route so that passengers will have extensive connection opportunities through Dubai's international hub.

flydubai is very happy with the B737s

flydubai
flydubai has an all-Boeing B737 fleet, including the B737-800 and B737 MAX versions. Photo: flydubai

Since its launch in 2009, flydubai has built up a network of more than 95 destinations in 50 countries, using a fleet of Boeing B737 family aircraft. According to ch-aviation.com, it has a fleet of 66 B737s, including 33 B737-800s, 30 B737 MAX 8s, and three B737 MAX 9s. It also has an order with Boeing for 103 B737 MAX 8s and 50 B737 MAX 10s, which will be powered by CFM LEAP 1B engines. flydubai has carried more than 80 million passengers on routes to Africa, Central Asia, the Caucasus, Central and South-East Europe, the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Middle East, and the Indian Subcontinent. It has launched services to 70 destinations that did not have direct air links to Dubai or were not served by a United Arab Emirates (UAE) national carrier from Dubai.

One of those destinations dropped off the route map last week when flydubai suspended flights to the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo. The airline had little choice after the UAE Embassy issued a notice advising its citizens not to travel to Sri Lanka. The embassy added that those already there should avoid the areas where demonstrations are being held. The suspension took effect from July 10, and flydubai has offered all passengers booked a full refund.

SVP of commercial operations and e-commerce, Jeyhun Efendi, said the service would start as a twice-weekly service, and the airline hopes to see the market grow further.

"Central Asia is an important market for flydubai and the new service will provide customers from Samarkand and the adjacent areas with an easier and more efficient way to travel to the United Arab Emirates and beyond."

Samarkand is a significant historical site on the Silk Road

Historic Registan square with three madrasahs Ulugh Beg, Tilya-Kori and Sher-Dor, Samarkend, Uzbekistan
Samarkand's historic Registan Square with three madrasahs Ulugh Beg, Tilya-Kori and Sher-Dor. Photo: flydubai

flydubai's Dubai to Tashkent service operates six times weekly from Dubai International to Islam Karimov Tashkent International Airport (TAS). It is a 3:30 hour flight that departs DXB at 22:10 and arrives in Tashkent at 02:40 the next day. Samarkand is Uzbekistan's second-largest city, home to around 600,000 people and situated around 180 miles (210 km) from the capital city of Tashkent. Its location on the famous Silk Road and UNESCO World Heritage architectural monuments make Samarkand the largest center for international tourism in the country.

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In the region, flydubai already has services to Almaty and Nur-Sultan in Kazakhstan and Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan, two countries within the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The CIS is a regional intergovernmental organization of states in Eastern Europe and Asia, formed following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991.