Thailand and Uzbekistan Launch Direct Tashkent–Phuket Flights to Expand Tourism and Trade
Centrum Air begins twice-weekly service between Tashkent and Phuket, strengthening Central Asia–Southeast Asia connectivity
A new direct air corridor between Tashkent, Uzbekistan and Phuket, Thailand was inaugurated on October 31, 2025, by Centrum Air and supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
The service, operating twice a week, is designed to bolster tourism, leisure travel and business exchange between the two nations and regions.
The aircraft servicing the route offers 186 seats per flight and departs Tashkent twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with return journeys from Phuket on Thursdays and Sundays.
The flight time between Tashkent International Airport and Phuket International Airport is approximately seven hours, making it one of the fastest connections into Thailand’s tropical resort zone from Central Asia.
Thailand has identified Central Asian markets such as Uzbekistan as key growth sectors for inbound tourism, after saturation in traditional markets.
The new route aligns with its strategy of diversifying source markets and reshaping its tourism base away from conventional short holidays toward longer stays, wellness travel and lifestyle segments.
Phuket, as a mature resort destination, offers the infrastructure to absorb these shifts.
For Uzbekistan, the link to Phuket opens a convenient gateway to Southeast Asia for its population of growing disposable-income earners.
Uzbekistan’s outbound leisure travel has been rising rapidly, and a direct connection to Thailand’s beaches, resorts and wellness hubs delivers a compelling value proposition.
Travel professionals note that the route may also encourage the growth of long-stay visitors and property-investment interest on the Thai island.
Beyond tourism, the scheduled link is viewed as enhancing economic diplomacy.
Thai and Uzbek trade, investment and services ties—particularly in agriculture, manufacturing and logistics—stand to benefit from improved people-to-people and business connectivity.
Officials acknowledge that the route reduces travel-time friction for entrepreneurs and may support bilateral trade forums and education exchanges.
As the service commences, both nations emphasise sustainable travel development.
Thailand plans to integrate the route into its eco-tourism framework, while Uzbekistan’s aviation sector frames the flight as part of its broader international network expansion.
The new airline service thus symbolises both practical connectivity and symbolic engagement between the two regions.
The service, operating twice a week, is designed to bolster tourism, leisure travel and business exchange between the two nations and regions.
The aircraft servicing the route offers 186 seats per flight and departs Tashkent twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with return journeys from Phuket on Thursdays and Sundays.
The flight time between Tashkent International Airport and Phuket International Airport is approximately seven hours, making it one of the fastest connections into Thailand’s tropical resort zone from Central Asia.
Thailand has identified Central Asian markets such as Uzbekistan as key growth sectors for inbound tourism, after saturation in traditional markets.
The new route aligns with its strategy of diversifying source markets and reshaping its tourism base away from conventional short holidays toward longer stays, wellness travel and lifestyle segments.
Phuket, as a mature resort destination, offers the infrastructure to absorb these shifts.
For Uzbekistan, the link to Phuket opens a convenient gateway to Southeast Asia for its population of growing disposable-income earners.
Uzbekistan’s outbound leisure travel has been rising rapidly, and a direct connection to Thailand’s beaches, resorts and wellness hubs delivers a compelling value proposition.
Travel professionals note that the route may also encourage the growth of long-stay visitors and property-investment interest on the Thai island.
Beyond tourism, the scheduled link is viewed as enhancing economic diplomacy.
Thai and Uzbek trade, investment and services ties—particularly in agriculture, manufacturing and logistics—stand to benefit from improved people-to-people and business connectivity.
Officials acknowledge that the route reduces travel-time friction for entrepreneurs and may support bilateral trade forums and education exchanges.
As the service commences, both nations emphasise sustainable travel development.
Thailand plans to integrate the route into its eco-tourism framework, while Uzbekistan’s aviation sector frames the flight as part of its broader international network expansion.
The new airline service thus symbolises both practical connectivity and symbolic engagement between the two regions.
