Adil Mirza Khalmirzaev
Abhishek Goyal
Ambassador of Uzbekistan to India, Sardor Rustambaev
Vineet Gupta
Uzbek carrier eyes South India expansion, codeshare partnerships, and European links
New Delhi, September 26, 2025 – Uzbekistan’s fastest-growing private airline, Centrum Air, has formally announced its entry into the Indian market with the launch of direct services between Delhi and Tashkent, set to begin on October 3, 2025. Modern A320neo aircraft in an all-economy configuration, including complimentary meals, will service the twice-weekly flights- operating on Tuesdays and Fridays.
At the official launch event hosted at The Grand, New Delhi, airline executives, Uzbekistan’s diplomatic representatives, and Centrum Air’s India GSA, Aeroprime Group, outlined a roadmap that extends well beyond Delhi. Plans include direct services from Hyderabad and Bengaluru by summer 2026, potential codeshare agreements with Indian carriers, and expanded connectivity across Central Asia, the CIS, Russia, the Middle East, and new European destinations.
South India in Focus
Adil Mirza Khalmirzaev, GSA Department Head & Business Development Director at Centrum Air, said Hyderabad and Bengaluru are next on the airline’s radar.
“We are working towards launching Hyderabad–Tashkent and Bengaluru–Tashkent flights from summer 2026. Mumbai is not in immediate plans due to heavy competition, but demand could push us to expand there in the future,” he explained.
He added that while Centrum Air already connects to Central Asia and CIS destinations, new European routes—including Frankfurt (December 2025), Copenhagen, and Milan (2026)—will expand the network further, creating more seamless options for Indian travellers.
Codeshares and Daily Ambitions
Khalmirzaev confirmed that negotiations are underway for codeshare agreements with IndiGo and other carriers. The broader aim, he noted, is to eventually increase Delhi flights to daily operations in the coming months, depending on performance and demand.
Strengthening Tourism and Bilateral Ties
The strategic timing of Centrum Air’s entry comes amid surging bilateral travel between India and Uzbekistan.
Sardor Rustambaev, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to India, highlighted the remarkable growth in tourism exchanges:
“India and Uzbekistan share bonds that are centuries old. With a flight time of just over two hours, connectivity has already boosted tourism fourfold—from 20,000 visitors to 82,000 annually in just one year. With Centrum Air’s entry, we expect even stronger numbers this year,” the Ambassador said.
Aeroprime’s Role in India
Abhishek Goyal, CEO & Executive Director of Aeroprime Group, Centrum Air’s appointed GSA in India, called the launch “just the beginning.”
“Along with Delhi, Centrum Air has ambitious plans to establish a stronger presence in South India. The upcoming Hyderabad and Bengaluru connections, supported by onward links into Central Asia and Europe, will unlock significant opportunities for leisure, MICE, and student travel,” Goyal said.
He added that Aeroprime’s role is to hand-hold airlines entering India through regulatory, distribution, and marketing support. “If the destination is promoted, the airline automatically succeeds. For Uzbekistan, our goal is to position it as a leisure and MICE hotspot.”
Vineet Gupta, VP – Business Development & Marketing at Aeroprime, echoed the sentiment, describing the Delhi launch as a “milestone” in expanding Indo-Uzbek connectivity.
Student Travel Driving Growth
A key demand driver for Centrum Air is the surge in Indian students pursuing medical studies in Uzbekistan.
“Currently, around 12,000 Indian students are enrolled in Uzbekistan. This number is expected to triple to nearly 40,000 within a few years. That represents significant and sustained travel demand,” Khalmirzaev noted.
He also positioned Uzbekistan as a safe, culturally rich, and accessible leisure destination:
“From Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva to world-class gastronomy and a seamless e-visa process, Uzbekistan has everything to appeal to Indian travellers. Women and groups will find it particularly welcoming.”
Centrum Holidays: DMC Support for India
Supporting the airline’s expansion is Centrum Holidays, the in-house DMC arm of Centrum Holding.
Daniil Chasovnikov, representing the company, said packages would be designed specifically for the Indian market, with a focus on group tours, MICE, and wedding tourism, as well as short transit tours in Tashkent for connecting passengers.
“Centrum Holidays already works with over 1,400 agencies in Uzbekistan. For India, we will tailor experiences around history, heritage, and cuisine—elements that resonate strongly with Indian tourists. Post-pandemic, interest in Uzbekistan has risen sharply, and we are ready to capture that demand,” he said.
Looking Ahead
Centrum Air’s India strategy is anchored on three pillars:
- Expansion: Building routes into South India by 2026.
- Partnerships: Codeshares with Indian airlines to strengthen distribution and reach.
- Diversification: Growing beyond Central Asia into Europe and the Middle East.
With Aeroprime driving awareness and Uzbekistan positioning itself as a leisure, education, and MICE destination, Centrum Air is betting on India as a cornerstone of its international growth story.
In Summary
- Delhi–Tashkent flights begin October 3, 2025, twice weekly with A320neo aircraft.
- Hyderabad and Bengaluru routes to follow by summer 2026.
- Codeshare talks with IndiGo and others are underway.
- European destinations Frankfurt, Copenhagen, and Milan will be added by 2026.
- Student travel is expected to triple, providing strong traffic flows.
- Centrum Holidays to launch India-focused packages, including MICE and wedding tourism.
With rising Indian interest in Uzbekistan’s heritage and modern attractions, Centrum Air’s India entry represents more than a route launch—it marks a strategic bet on the future of Indo-Uzbek travel and trade relations.
