[Aviation News] On March 30, 2026, air connectivity between China and Central Asia was further enhanced as Shanghai and Shenzhen simultaneously launched direct passenger routes to Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. This development marks a continued expansion of direct links between eastern China and the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area and key Central Asian cities, providing more efficient air channels for trade and people-to-people exchanges.
Among the new services, China Eastern Airlines inaugurated the Shanghai Pudong–Tashkent route (MU6037/MU6038), operating four flights weekly on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The outbound flight departs Shanghai at 13:40 and arrives in Tashkent at 18:40 local time, while the return flight departs at 20:20 and lands in Shanghai at 06:15 the following day. The inaugural flight recorded a load factor of nearly 90%, reflecting solid market demand and further strengthening Shanghai’s connectivity with Central Asia as an international aviation hub.
Meanwhile, Shenzhen Airport also launched a direct Shenzhen–Tashkent route operated by Uzbekistan Airways, with one weekly flight. The outbound service departs Shenzhen at 09:10 and arrives in Tashkent at 16:20, while the return flight departs at 01:20 and arrives in Shenzhen at 07:40. As Shenzhen’s first passenger route to Central Asia, the service fills a key market gap and further enhances the Greater Bay Area’s air connectivity with Belt and Road markets.
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