Director of the consulting company SmartGov consulting Aziza Umarova spoke about the problems of monopolization of the aviation market in Uzbekistan.
“Most of the Antalya resorts are filled with average public from peripheral cities, who bring children to the beach once a year,” she said.
However, she noted that in Uzbekistan everything is different.
“Many Uzbek citizens do not have an opportunity to fly abroad on vacation, because the monopolist air carrier does not allow competitors to enter the market of Uzbekistan. We do not have charter flights and no alternative local airlines. Instead, every summer season, Uzbekistan Airways launches its “charter” flight to Antalya and sells tickets at the price of a regular flight to Istanbul, booking always goes through a specific travel agency. This is familiar, isn't it?” Aziza Umarova said.
“A standard charter ticket costs $150-200-300. It is almost a penny. Therefore, rest in Turkey is the most popular and affordable option in Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, but with us - it is still a luxury. I sincerely regret that taking children to the sea in a battered 3-star hotel for 95% of the population of our country remains an unrealized dream,” she wrote.
In her opinion, the state monopoly is always “despicable” and it makes the country poorer.
It should be reminded that earlier, Uzbekistan Airways stated that the company is not a monopolist.
“For some reason this question often arises. That's right, we are the only air carrier in the country, but we are not monopolists. We are not against other companies. Please let them come and open their companies. On the contrary, it is necessary to develop competition. Let them buy airplanes, find pilots, negotiate with other agencies and work,” the NAC deputy director Umid Khusanov said.
Director of the financial-economic department at the NAC Uzbekistan Airways Alisher Sattarov noted that the company provides cheaper services than Russian carriers do.
“Last year, ticket prices for Moscow fell up to €80. Many Russian tourists prefer to use our services, despite the fact that 9 airlines offer flights from Russia to Uzbekistan. People are choosing us, it means they are satisfied with the services provided,” he stated.
