Georgian Airways has started operating charter cargo flights on the Haikou–Navoi–Tbilisi route, according to Uzbekistan Airports.

The first flight on the new route took place on August 8. A Boeing 767-300 aircraft from the Georgian carrier landed at Navoi International Airport at 16:43, where it was greeted with a ceremonial water arch.

Georgian Airways plans to operate cargo flights from China to Georgia with a technical stop in Navoi twice a week.

Earlier this week, the French carrier CMA CGM Air Cargo also launched flights to China via Uzbekistan. The company’s cargo planes will fly the Paris–Zhengzhou route with technical stops in Navoi five times a week.

Uzbekistan agreed to transfer the cargo terminal at Navoi Airport to the management of the UAE-based company Terminals Holding in the fall of 2022. In January 2023, the company began preparing a development strategy.

With the help of the international cargo company, it was planned to increase cargo transportation volumes by 19% in 2023. Rano Juraeva, who headed Uzbekistan Airports at that time, noted that the process is connected with the reconstruction of Navoi Airport. After the completion of the renovation, faster growth in cargo transportation is expected.