Air Samarkand
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| Founded | 4 April 2022 [1] | ||||||
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| Commenced operations | 29 December 2023 | ||||||
| AOC # | 18-O | ||||||
| Hubs | Samarkand International Airport | ||||||
| Focus cities | Tashkent, Istanbul, Jeddah | ||||||
| Fleet size | 3 | ||||||
| Destinations | 9 | ||||||
| Headquarters | Samarkand, Uzbekistan | ||||||
| Key people | Zafar Butaev | ||||||
| Website | Official website | ||||||
Air Samarkand, legal name ООО Sam Air is an Uzbek startup airline based at Samarkand International Airport in Samarkand.[2] The airline operates charter and passenger flights within Asia.[3]
History
[edit | edit source]The establishment of Air Samarkand began in 4 April 2022, the legal entity Air Samarkand or LLC Sam Air was registered. [4] The airline was created with the goal of operating charter flights in Asia and connecting Samarkand to the region.[5]
On November 2, 2023, the airline received its first aircraft, an Airbus A330-300 that previously flew for China Airlines.[6]
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. [7]
Its first passenger charter flight was conducted on December 29, 2023, to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport.[8][9] Its first scheduled flight was conducted on March 21, 2024, to Istanbul Airport.[citation needed]
The airline’s charter program was launched on April 21, 2024, with the inaugural flight from Samarkand to Nha Trang, Vietnam.[10][11]
Air Samarkand, carried 152,600 passengers and 2.65 tons of cargo during 2024. It operated 1,237 flights – 498 with its Airbus A321neo, 236 on the Airbus A321 and 503 with the Airbus A330-300 – whilst setting an average load factor of 82% on regular scheduled services and 89% on charter flights.[12]
Fleet
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As of August 2025[update], Air Samarkand operates the following aircraft:[13][14]
| Aircraft | In service | Orders | Passengers | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Y | Total | ||||
| Airbus A321-200 | 1 | — | 12 | 182 | 194 | |
| Airbus A321neo | 1 | — | — | 221 | 221 | |
| Airbus A330-300 | 1 | — | 36 | 227 | 263 | Previously operated by China Airlines.[citation needed] |
| Total | 3 | — | ||||
Air Samarkand operates a fully Airbus fleet, which is planned to expand to eight aircraft.[15]
Destinations
[edit | edit source]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.[citation needed]
As of December 2024, Air Samarkand operates flights to the following destinations:[16]
| Country | City | Airport | Notes | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egypt | Sharm El Sheikh | Sharm El Sheikh International Airport | [17] | |
| Georgia | Batumi | Batumi International Airport | Seasonal charter | [12] |
| Tbilisi | Tbilisi International Airport | Seasonal charter | [12] | |
| Israel | Tel Aviv | Ben Gurion Airport | [18][19][20] | |
| Saudi Arabia | Jeddah | King Abdulaziz International Airport | [21] | |
| Turkey | Istanbul | Istanbul Airport | [22][23] | |
| Sabiha Gökçen International Airport | Terminated | |||
| Uzbekistan | Samarqand | Samarqand International Airport | Hub | |
| Tashkent | Tashkent International Airport | [24] | ||
| United Arab Emirates | Abu Dhabi | Zayed International Airport | Begins 26 December 2025 | [25][26] |
| Vietnam | Phú Quốc | Phu Quoc International Airport | Seasonal charter | [27] |
References
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External links
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