New Route of the Day (3 August 2026): SunExpress between Izmir and Tashkent

SunExpress introduced flights between Izmir and Tashkent on Monday 3 August. The 3,595-kilometre service will be maintained 2-weekly, on Mondays and Thursdays, with a mix of 737-800 and 737 MAX 8 aircraft. The carrier becomes the first to link the two cities.

Flight XQ802 departs Izmir at 20:30 local time, arriving in Tashkent at 03:10 local time the following morning. The return service, operating as flight XQ803, departs on Tuesdays and Fridays at 04:30 local time, arriving back in Türkiye at 08:05 local time.

What they said

Javlonbek Umarkhodjayev, Chairman of the Board of Uzbekistan Airports, said: “SunExpress’s entry into the Uzbek market marks an important stage in expanding the capital airport’s route network. The arrival of another Turkish air carrier will enhance competition on the route between Uzbekistan and Türkiye, where Turkish Airlines and AJet already operate, while expanding flight choices and fares for passengers. The new route is expected to facilitate tourism, business travel and cultural exchanges between the two countries.”

Tashkent Airport sees strong growth

Tashkent Airport has recorded rapid growth over the past two years. In 2025, it handled 9.96 million passengers, an increase of 14% on the 8.72 million welcomed a year earlier. The number of flights also rose by 15% to 40,153, supported by the expansion of the airport’s route network and additional frequencies on existing services.

Growth accelerated further during the first half of 2026, when Tashkent Airport welcomed 5.36 million passengers, up 17% on the 4.58 million handled during the same period last year. This represented almost 773,000 additional travellers.

The increase is being driven by the continued expansion of Uzbekistan Airways and rapidly growing private carriers such as Centrum Air and Qanot Sharq, alongside the entry of new foreign airlines and the launch of services to destinations across Europe, China, India, the Middle East and Central Asia. Stronger tourism and business demand is also contributing to the result, with Uzbekistan welcoming 6.56 million international visitors during the first half of 2026, up 24.9%. The airport is additionally benefiting from Tashkent’s growing role as a regional transfer hub and the government’s efforts to liberalise the country’s aviation market.