London Gatwick supports Uzbekistan tourism surge with new Qanot Sharq flights
- Qanot Sharq now provides passengers with two direct flights per week between London Gatwick and Uzbekistan capital, Tashkent
- London Gatwick saw passenger numbers to central Asia increase by 25% year-on-year this summer
- Uzbekistan has seen tourist numbers increase from just over two million in 2017 to more than 10 million last year
London Gatwick has responded to growing passenger demand for flights to central Asia with a new service to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, operated by airline Qanot Sharq.
The twice-weekly flight, which started on 15 December, provides passengers across London and the South East with more choice to connect directly to the region.
London Gatwick saw passenger numbers to central Asia increase by 25% year-on-year (July-September), with tourism in the region at an all-time high. Uzbekistan specifically has seen tourist numbers increase from just over two million in 2017 to more than 10 million last year.
Uzbekistan Airways already offers non-stop flights to Tashkent, while Azerbaijan Airlines operates from London Gatwick to Baku. Turkmenistan Airlines also provides the only direct connection between the UK and Ashgabat.
Jonathan Pollard, Chief Commercial Officer, London Gatwick said: “Central Asia has been a strong performer at London Gatwick this year, so we’re delighted to welcome Qanot Sharq to support this growing demand.
“This is the fourth central Asian airline since March 2024 to join our network and provide excellent connectivity to the region. Qanot Sharq’s arrival is fantastic news for passengers who will benefit from more choice and competition.”
Moisey Pak, CEO, Qanot Sharq said: “The launch of our first flight to London Gatwick on 15 December marks an important milestone in the development of our airline and Uzbekistan’s private aviation sector. Becoming the first private airline in the country to operate services to Gatwick reflects our long-term strategy to expand our international route network. We are pleased to offer passengers regular air services between Uzbekistan and the United Kingdom with a frequency of twice weekly, ensuring convenient and reliable travel options.”
London Gatwick recently announced Jet2 – one of the UK’s largest airlines – will start flying from the airport in March 2026, with 29 routes on offer. Air Arabia will also be flying twice daily to Sharjah, UAE, from March while German carrier Condor has secured slots and will be flying three times a day to Frankfurt from next April.
In addition, Air France recently announced two flights per day between London Gatwick and Paris Charles de Gaulle from March, while Skybus now connects passengers daily between London Gatwick and Cornwall Airport Newquay.
With 43m annual passengers, London Gatwick is the UK’s second largest and one of Europe’s top 10 airports. It is a vital piece of national infrastructure that drives both the national and regional economies by generating £5.5bn GVA and supporting over 76,000 jobs (2023). Almost 60 airlines fly from the airport to over 150 short-haul and more than 50 long-haul destinations. With a declared capacity of 55 movements an hour, London Gatwick is the most efficient single runway airport in the world.
The airport is located 28 miles south of the UK capital and is extremely well-connected, with more than a quarter of England’s population (15m people) – including all of London – less than one hour away by road or rail.A six-year, £2bn sustainable growth programme includes an ambitious plan to be a net zero airport by 2030 and to increase capacity by bringing the airport’s existing Northern Runway into routine use, alongside its Main Runway. VINCI Airports owns a 50.01% stake in the airport, with Global Infrastructure Partners managing the remaining 49.99%.
VINCI Airports, as the leading private airport operator in the world, manages the development and operation of more than 70 airports located in 14 countries. VINCI Airports draws on its expertise as a comprehensive integrator to develop, finance, build and operate airports, leveraging its investment capability and know-how to optimise operational performance and modernise infrastructure while bringing about their environmental transition. In 2016, VINCI Airports became the first airport operator to commit to an international environmental strategy, setting itself the aim of reaching zero net emissions (scope 1 and 2) across the network by 2050 while supporting the territories’ local climate transition.
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London, UK, 4 December 2025
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