TEHRAN (Iran News) –Qeshm Air will launch direct flights from Tehran to Tashkent and Samarkand of Uzbekistan as of December 22 and this decision will help tourism activities between Iran and Uzbekistan boost.

In a ceremony held at Uzbekistan Embassy in Tehran and in presence of Qeshm Air officials and some tour operators and travel agencies, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Tehran Bakhodir Abdullaev announced the news and said that Qeshm Air is to start direct flights from Tehran to Tashkent and Samarkand of Uzbekistan as of December 22 and it will help the ties between the two countries develop and tourism activities of both states pick up.

Addressing the ceremony, Mr. Abdullaev pointed to the historic and amicable ties between Iran and Uzbekistan which is getting stronger day in day. He went on to say that on September 14-16 of this year, President Seyed Ebrahim Raisi had a visit to Tashkent and had effective high-level talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. He added that 18 MoUs and agreements were signed during the visit in order to further expand multifaceted cooperation between the two states and one of the agreements was simplification of visa procedures for representatives of business and scientific circles and tourist groups and cooperation program in the field of tourism in 2022-2025.

The Uzbek Ambassador added that currently Zagros Airline operates direct flights between Uzbekistan and Iran once a week, noting that until the end of December, both countries will start more direct flights on the routes of Tehran-Tashkent and Tehran-Samarkand and Qeshm Air will be in charge of these flights.

He added that he is sure that the increase of direct flights between the two countries will ease the traffic, create another favorable opportunity for the development of the tourism industry and as the result, the friendly relations between both nations will continue to strengthen.

Abdullaev further said that Uzbek President Mirziyoyev adopted the development strategy of New Uzbekistan for 2022-2026 and in this program, further expansion of existing relations with partners in South Asia and the Middle East region indicated.

He stated in particular, the acceleration of mutual cooperation in the trade-economic and cultural-humanitarian spheres with Iran and improvement of its legal framework have been defined as one of the main tasks.

He noted that the World Tourism Organization declared Samarkand the World Tourism Capital in 2023, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation declared Khiva the Islamic World Tourism Capital in 2024.

Abdullaev said that over 300,000 tourists have visited Uzbekistan and only some 350 Iranians have been among the foreign tourists. He expressed hope by increasing the direct flights, the number of tourists between the two countries would increase.

Then Head of Central Asian Office of Qeshm Air Mr. Seyed Ali Mofidi, for his part, hailed the sincere cooperation of Uzbek officials for the launch of direct flights of Qeshm Air to Uzbekistan and said that the flights will officially start on December 22, reiterating that in case the flights are welcomed by the passengers, the number of flights will increase.

He stated that from late March, the tourist capacity will increase, adding that Iran and Uzbekistan have many cultural commonalities which can help the tourist activities.

Then the CEO of Qeshm Air Mr. Ramin Hamzeh, for his part, welcomed the launch of direct flights to Uzbekistan by this airline and said that airliners play key role in development of tourism, adding that although the launch of flights to Uzbekistan is because of cultural bods and commonalities but economic issues also matter, reiterating that direct flights can develop tourism of both states.

He noted that Qeshm Air will use its modern plane Airbus 320 for these flights and will offer the best services for these flights, adding that Qeshm Air and IranAir are the only two Iranian airlines which can fly to EU countries.

CAPTION: Uzbekistan Ambassador Mr. Abdullaev (R), the CEO of Qeshm Air Mr Hamzeh (C) and Head of Central Asian Office of Qeshm Air Mr. Mofidi (L) speak to participants in the ceremony on Saturday December 3.