Uzbekistan-based airline Centrum Air has expanded its India network with the launch of direct Hyderabad–Tashkent services, opening a new air link between Hyderabad and Uzbekistan while targeting growing business, tourism and education-related travel between India and Central Asia.
The new service was launched at an event at The Leela, Hyderabad, attended by senior representatives from the Embassy of Uzbekistan, Centrum Air, Uzbekistan Tourism Committee, Aeroprime Group, travel agents, OTAs and other industry stakeholders.
Centrum Air currently operates five weekly flights from New Delhi and is looking to increase the frequency to a daily operation. With the addition of Hyderabad, the airline now has seven weekly flights from India—five from Delhi and two from Hyderabad.
Adil Mirza, Head of Agents Division, Centrum Air, said the Hyderabad service is part of the airline’s strategy to broaden its India footprint beyond the northern market.
“Hyderabad is a new project for us in India and gives us an opportunity to tap the South Indian as well as Central Indian market. We are starting with two frequencies a week and will assess how the market responds. If the operation performs well, we can look at moving towards a daily service,” Mirza said.
He added that the airline sees significant potential in the India–Central Asia market, with traffic comprising leisure travellers, business travellers and students. According to Mirza, Hyderabad and Kerala are among the markets generating substantial student traffic to Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries, particularly for medical education.
“Education tourism is very popular in Uzbekistan, and there are a large number of Indian students studying not only in Uzbekistan but also in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. We see ourselves playing an important role in providing a convenient gateway for these students,” he said.
Beyond point-to-point traffic, Centrum Air is also positioning Tashkent as a gateway for Indian travellers heading to other destinations in Central Asia and the Caucasus. Mirza said the airline’s network from Tashkent provides connectivity to destinations including Azerbaijan and Georgia, as well as several Russian cities.
“The opportunity is not limited to Uzbekistan. Travellers can use Tashkent to access several destinations across Central Asia and the Caucasus, which makes the Hyderabad connection particularly relevant for travellers from the southern and central parts of India,” he said.
Mirza also pointed to the growing popularity of Uzbekistan among Indian tourists, while noting that the tourism opportunity remains significantly larger. He said the country offers a combination of heritage, history and modern experiences, while relatively affordable accommodation, food and travel costs make it an attractive destination for Indian travellers.
The airline is taking a measured approach to capacity deployment from Hyderabad. Each flight has a capacity of around 180 passengers, and the initial two-weekly schedule will allow the airline to evaluate demand before considering an increase in frequency.
“We want to take it step by step. It is a business operation, and if the initial services are successful, we can increase the frequency. For now, our focus is on offering Indian passengers convenient connectivity to Uzbekistan and onward destinations at competitive prices,” Mirza said.
Aeroprime Group, Centrum Air’s Exclusive General Sales Agent (GSA) in India, is spearheading the airline’s market development, sales and trade engagement in the country.
Abhishek Goyal, Executive Director & CEO, Aeroprime Group, said Hyderabad represents an important addition to Centrum Air’s India network.
“The launch of direct Hyderabad–Tashkent connectivity marks another significant milestone in Centrum Air’s India growth story. Hyderabad has tremendous potential as an international aviation and commercial hub, and this new service will open up exciting opportunities for travellers, trade and tourism. With the launch of Hyderabad, Centrum Air will now operate seven weekly flights from India—five from Delhi and two from Hyderabad—achieved in less than a year of entering the Indian market,” Goyal said.
He added that the expansion reflects the airline’s confidence in the Indian market and the growing demand for connectivity between India and Central Asia.
The launch event also highlighted the strengthening India–Uzbekistan relationship, with H.E. Dr. Sardor Mirzayusupovich Rustambaev, Ambassador of Uzbekistan, speaking on the role of direct air connectivity in facilitating tourism, trade and closer bilateral ties.
The Centrum Air team presented its services and market positioning during the event, followed by a presentation from the Uzbekistan Tourism Committee. The evening also brought together DMCs, travel agents, OTAs, tourism representatives and industry partners from Hyderabad, creating an opportunity for further trade engagement.
Centrum Air also offered return Hyderabad–Tashkent tickets through a lucky draw at the event, giving winners an opportunity to experience the newly launched route.
