The plane departed from Samarkand at 00:05 and arrived in Jeddah at 03:10 local time, delivering 188 passengers to the city, which is a traditional gathering place for pilgrims heading to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. Two hours after arrival, the plane departed for the return flight to Samarkand. Another flight is scheduled for the same day, departing Samarkand at 15:00 and arriving in Jeddah at 18:20 local time. Going forward, the airline will operate two flights every Tuesday.
Air Samarkand’s inaugural flights to King Abdulaziz International Airport signify an important step in developing air links between Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia. The opening of this new route is a significant event for the Muslims of Uzbekistan, providing a convenient means to visit the most revered holy sites in the Islamic world.
Jeddah is a true jewel of the Arab world. It is the second-largest city in Saudi Arabia and its "economic capital." Besides pilgrimage, the city is of great interest to tourists: along the Red Sea coast stretches the Corniche resort area with luxury hotels, beaches, and shopping centers. Here is also the legendary King Fahd Fountain, and in the historic Al-Balad district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, traditional coral stone buildings have been preserved.
Notably, Air Samarkand has planned flights not only to Jeddah but also to Medina, starting from Samarkand in August 2024 on an Airbus A330. These flights are carried out in partnership with the EasyBooking agency.
Air Samarkand’s CEO, Zafar Butaev, stated: "We are proud to offer our passengers new opportunities for travel and spiritual development. Our new flights are aimed at strengthening the ties between Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia. We strive to provide a high level of comfort and absolute safety on all our flights. We thank our esteemed customers for choosing Air Samarkand!"
"We are delighted that Air Samarkand has started flights to Jeddah from Samarkand. The arrival of Air Samarkand will contribute to the further development of Uzbekistan’s connections with Saudi Arabia’s largest airport and the growth of inbound tourism," said Mr. Mazen Johar, CEO of JEDCO, and Mr. Majid Khan, CEO of the Air Connectivity Program.
"Uzbekistan, with its important position in Central Asia, is an underdeveloped market for Saudi Arabia. We welcome the arrival of Air Samarkand in Jeddah and look forward to introducing tourists from Uzbekistan to the untouched wonders of Saudi Arabia," said Mr. Hazim Alhazmi, President for European and American Markets at the Saudi Tourism Authority.
Passengers on the first flight positively reviewed the check-in process at the airport, the airline's service, and the flight overall, praising both the attentive care of the flight attendants and the halal meals provided on Air Samarkand flights.
Air Samarkand continues its successful development and steadily expands its route network. In addition to new flights to Saudi Arabia, the airline operates direct flights to Istanbul, Sharm El-Sheikh, and Nha Trang on Airbus A321neo and A330-300 aircraft.
