“Open sky” regime introduced at Karshi, Nukus, Termez and Bukhara international airports

From October 1, 2019, the “Open sky” regime has been introduced at Karshi, Nukus, Termez and Bukhara international airports.

In order to increase the inflow of foreign tourists to Uzbekistan, on 13 August 2019, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree “On measures to further develop the tourism industry in the Republic of Uzbekistan”, according to which introduction of the “Open sky” regime at Karshi, Nukus, Termez and Bukhara international airports was determined using the “Five Freedoms of Aviation”.

The “open sky” regime allows foreign airlines to perform international flights to the airport without restrictions on the number of flights.

According to world experience, implementation of the “Open sky” policy allows to increase passenger traffic by 35% (without it – by 8%) on average. This also reduces the cost of air tickets from 20% to 40%. In addition, this regime will create tens of thousands of new jobs.

Freedom at the air latitude includes a number of civil aviation rules that allow airlines to enter and land in another country’s airspace. These rules were formed as a result of the consensus on the level of aviation liberalization set forth in the Convention on International Civil Aviation, signed in 1944.

Now foreign airline companies that are interested in launching flights to the cities, where the “Open sky” regime is introduced, shall apply to the Ministry of Transport and JSC Uzbekistan Airports for a slot.