Air Samarkand
| |||||||
| Founded | 4 April 2022 [1] | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commenced operations | 29 December 2023 | ||||||
| Hubs | Samarkand International Airport | ||||||
| Focus cities | Tashkent, Istanbul, Jeddah | ||||||
| Fleet size | 3 | ||||||
| Destinations | 6 | ||||||
| Headquarters | Samarkand, Uzbekistan | ||||||
| Key people | Zafar Butaev | ||||||
| Website | https://airsamarkand.com/en | ||||||
Air Samarkand, legal name ООО Sam Air[2] is an Uzbek startup airline based at Samarkand International Airport in Samarkand.[3] The airline operates charter and passenger flights within Asia.[4]
History
[edit]The establishment of Air Samarkand began in 4 April 2022, the legal entity Air Samarkand or LLC Sam Air was registered. [5] The airline was created with the goal of operating charter flights in Asia and connecting Samarkand to the region.[6][7]
On November 2, 2023, the airline received its first aircraft, an Airbus A330-300 that previously flew for China Airlines.[8]
On December 27, 2023, the airline was granted its Air Operator's Certificate (AOC). Air Samarkand was assigned its own ICAO code, UZS, and the radio call sign Samarkand.
Its first passenger charter flight was conducted on December 29, 2023, to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport.[9][10] Its first scheduled flight was conducted on March 21, 2024, to Istanbul Airport.[11]
The airline’s charter program was launched on April 21, 2024, with the inaugural flight from Samarkand to Nha Trang, Vietnam.
Fleet
[edit]As of December 2024, Air Samarkand operates a fully Airbus fleet, which is planned to expand to 8 aircraft.[12] The current fleet consists of:[13]
| Aircraft Type | In Service | Orders | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A321 | 1 | — | |
| Airbus A321neo | 1 | — | |
| Airbus A330-300 | 1 | — | Previously operated by China Airlines. |
| Total | 3 | — |
Destinations
[edit]Air Samarkand is planning significant expansion in its destinations alongside its fleet growth. The airline has announced its intention to operate flights to China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Turkey, and South Korea, as well as other potential destinations in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
As of December 2024, Air Samarkand operates flights to the following destinations:[14]
| Country | City | Airport | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uzbekistan | Samarkand | Samarkand Airport | Hub |
| Uzbekistan | Tashkent | Islam Karimov Tashkent International Airport | |
| UAE | Abu Dhabi | Zayed International Airport | [15] |
| Turkey | Istanbul | Istanbul Airport | [16][17] |
| Turkey | Istanbul | Sabiha Gökçen International Airport | Terminated |
| Vietnam | Phú Quốc Island | Phu Quoc International Airport | Seasonal charter[18] |
| Saudi Arabia | Jeddah | Jeddah | [19] |
References
[edit]- ^ "Об авиакомпании - Air Samarkand". airsamarkand.com.
- ^ "Login required | Planespotters.net". www.planespotters.net.
- ^ Lee Cross (February 13, 2024). "Air Samarkand takes flight". www.key.aero. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
- ^ "The first plane of the basic air carrier Air Samarkand was met at the Samarkand International Airport". samarkandairport.com. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
- ^ Chris Smith (February 17, 2024). "CEO Interview: Air Samarkand's Anton Khojayan". Airways. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
- ^ Dillon Shah (January 20, 2024). "Inside Air Samarkand: Launch, Growth & Route Ambitions". Simple Flying. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
- ^ "Air Samarkand Announces Launch of Scheduled Flights and Appointment of New CEO". PR Newswire (Press release). Retrieved April 13, 2024.
- ^ "Private airline Air Samarkand receives its first Airbus A330 aircraft". Kun.uz. November 3, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
- ^ David Kaminski-Morrow (December 28, 2023). "Start-up Air Samarkand secures AOC as it prepares for initial charter flights". Flight Global. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
- ^ Graham Dunn (December 29, 2023). "Uzbek start-up Air Samarkand launches charter flights". Flight Global. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
- ^ Benjamin Cooper (March 24, 2024). "Air Samarkand Launches New Flight To Istanbul International Airport On A321neo". Simple Flying. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
- ^ "Air Samarkand to launch regular flights from March 2024". Daryo.uz. February 20, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
- ^ "Planespotters.net - Air Samarkand". Planespotters.net. March 26, 2024. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
- ^ "AirSamarkand". AirSamarkand.com. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
- ^ "Air Samarkand открывает прямые рейсы на остров Фукуок во Вьетнаме". UzDaily.uz.
- ^ "Air Samarkand Launches with Istanbul Flights, New CEO". March 18, 2024.
- ^ "Air Samarkand в день Навруза начнет летать в Стамбул". Podrobno.uz.
- ^ "Летим на Фукуок! - Air Samarkand". airsamarkand.com.
- ^ "Авиакомпания Air Samarkand успешно выполнила первый рейс в Джидду, Саудовская Аравия". Kun.uz.