A new direct air route connecting Xi’an, capital of northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, with Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan, was officially launched on Wednesday. The inaugural flight, operated by an Airbus A320, departed from Xi’an Xianyang International Airport with 137 passengers on board.
Operated by China Eastern Airlines under flight numbers MU855 and MU856, the round-trip service runs on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Flights depart Xi’an at 12:15 p.m. (Beijing Time) and arrive in Tashkent at 2:50 p.m. local time. The return flight departs Tashkent at 4:10 p.m. local time and arrives in Xi’an at 12:05 a.m. (Beijing Time) the next day.
The launch of this new route follows the implementation of the mutual visa exemption agreement between China and Uzbekistan on June 1 and further strengthens air connectivity between China and Central Asia. It is expected to boost bilateral trade and promote cultural exchanges.
The Xi’an-Tashkent service is the fifth international route launched by China Eastern Airlines from Xi’an this year, expanding the city’s international flight network to 17 destinations.