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Aviation

Michael Daniel Appointed Head of Kazakhstan’s Aviation Administration

Kazakhstan has appointed U.S. aviation veteran Michael Daniel as chief executive officer of the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan, a step that officials say is linked to plans for direct flights to the United States. Daniel took up the post on May 4. He has more than 40 years of experience in civil aviation and holds a degree in aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He began his career at the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), where he served as a flight operations inspector, aircraft certification specialist, and head of flight safety. He later worked on international programs and policy and held posts in Frankfurt, New York, and Washington. From 2006 to 2009, Daniel led the FAA’s international office in Singapore and Beijing, overseeing foreign repair stations and international safety assessments. During his career, he also took part in international initiatives, including work within Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and cooperated with the International Civil Aviation Organization on safety oversight and evaluation. Kazakhstan’s Civil Aviation Committee said one of Daniel’s main priorities will be the launch of direct flights to the U.S. Aviation expert Abul Kekilbayev said the appointment appeared to be tied to that objective. “The aircraft have already been bought, you need to pass an audit for compliance,” he said. Before direct flights can begin, airlines from Kazakhstan will need to complete several stages of approval with U.S. regulators. Those steps include obtaining authorization from the U.S. Department of Transportation and then applying to the FAA, which will assess whether Kazakhstan meets international aviation safety standards.

Aviation

Uzbekistan Becomes Top International Destination for Russian Airlines

Uzbekistan has become the leading international destination for Russian airlines in the summer 2026 schedule, with flights planned on 67 routes between the two countries, according to data reported by ATO.ru, citing Russia’s aviation authority, Rosaviatsiya. The figures show Uzbekistan surpassing other popular destinations for Russian carriers, including China and Turkey, by a significant margin. Flights to Uzbekistan will operate on 10 more routes than to China and 12 more than to Turkey. Other traditional leisure destinations, such as Thailand and Egypt, will see considerably fewer routes, with 35 and 33 respectively. According to the report, this marks a major shift compared to pre-pandemic travel patterns. In 2019, Uzbekistan ranked ninth among international destinations for Russian airlines, with passenger traffic totaling around 1.24 million people, well behind Turkey and China. The growing number of routes reflects strong demand for travel between the two countries. Analysts attribute this to labor migration, as well as expanding business and tourism ties. Uzbekistan has also gained importance as a transit hub, particularly as Western airspace restrictions now limit routing options for Russian carriers. Tashkent, in particular, has emerged as a key connection point for long-haul travel, including flights to the United States. Uzbekistan Airways remains the only Central Asian carrier operating transatlantic flights to New York. The trend is mirrored on the Uzbek side. According to earlier estimates by Lufthansa Consulting cited in the report, Russia accounted for 49% of Uzbek airlines’ passenger traffic in 2019, rising to 52% by 2022. In the current summer schedule, Uzbekistan Airways operates flights to 19 Russian cities, while private carriers such as Centrum Air and Qanot Sharq serve multiple destinations, including Moscow and St. Petersburg. A new airline, FlyOne Asia, is also expected to launch services on five routes from Tashkent to Russian cities. Previously, The Times of Central Asia reported that Uzbekistan Airways continues to maintain regular operations on Russian routes, including a January incident in which a Boeing 767 flying from Tashkent to Vladivostok made a safe emergency landing in Krasnoyarsk.

Air Travel

Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan Restore Flights Following Landmark Border Agreement

Regular flights between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan will resume in April 2025, marking a significant step in restoring air connectivity between the two countries. A test flight on the Bishkek-Khujand-Bishkek route was successfully conducted by Kyrgyz airline Asman Airlines. Regular operations on this route will begin on April 8, with flights scheduled once a week. The approximate cost of a one-way ticket is expected to be around $90. Additionally, Tajikistan's national carrier, Somon Air, has resumed regular flights between Dushanbe and Bishkek after nearly four years. The first flight was made possible following an agreement between the two governments to restore air service. “This important development significantly strengthens air connectivity between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, creating new opportunities for passengers and businesses. With the support of the presidents of both countries, regular flights between the capitals will become more accessible, contributing to the growth of economic and cultural ties,” said Manasbek Samidinov, Chairman of the Board of Manas International Airport Company. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, the resumption of air travel comes shortly after a historic border demarcation agreement between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. On March 13, Presidents Sadyr Japarov and Emomali Rahmon signed a treaty finalizing all border sections. The landmark deal was the result of three years of negotiations, mutual concessions, and land swaps.

International transport Flights Tourism

New Flights Launched between the Capitals of Qatar and Uzbekistan

On 2 June, Qatar Airways’ first scheduled flight from Doha landed at Tashkent Airport. According to Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Transport, the airline will initially operate four flights a week between Doha and Tashkent before introducing daily flights. The opening of regular flights will make a significant contribution to the growth of tourism between the two countries as well as benefitting the development of multifaceted cooperation between the Persian Gulf and Central Asia. In his presentation at the opening ceremony of the new air service at Tashkent International Airport, reported by Novosti Uzbekistana , Marwan Koleilat Senior Vice President, East Asia & South West Pacific at Qatar Airways, stated: “Tashkent has become a new point in the geography of our route network. We are confident that this new route will not only strengthen ties between Qatar and Uzbekistan, but will also open doors for business, tourism and cultural exchange. Passenger flights on the route Doha-Tashkent-Doha will be carried out four times a week — on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays — on Airbus A320 aircraft. In the future, we are considering both increasing the frequency of flights to Tashkent and launching flights to Bukhara and Samarkand.”

Tajikistan Somon Air Flights Kazakhstan

New Somon Air Flights from Dushanbe to Astana

On 2 April, Somon Air launched direct flights between the capitals of Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. Direct flights between Astana and Dushanbe will now operate twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays. Praising the initiative, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport stated that the Astana-Dushanbe air route will have a significant impact on furthering the development of trade, business, investment and tourism between Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. Somon Air currently operates regular flights between Tajikistan and Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, China, India, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. The airline’s fleet consists of Boeing 737-800 and Boeing 737-900 aircraft.