DELHI, April 4. /Dunyo IA/. Yesterday, “Uzbekistan Airways” launched direct regular flights on the Namangan – Delhi - Namangan route, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

The first flight, HY-9431, arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi on Friday at 12:15 PM local time. The return flight, HY-9432, departed at 1:45 PM.

To mark the launch of the new service, the check-in counters for flight HY-9432 were festively decorated. Passengers on the inaugural flight were presented with gifts and sweets. According to airline representatives, tickets for the first flight were completely sold out long before the departure date.

-  Today's flight is fully booked with 178 passengers, - said Ajay Arya, head of the Indian company “Aero World Travels” and a partner of “Uzbekistan Airways”. - This is a very joyful event. I congratulate my Uzbek colleagues on the launch of this new flight. I would also like to emphasize that Uzbekistan is a very popular destination in India, and we need to increase flight frequencies and explore new routes, such as to Samarkand and other historical cities.

Namangan has become the first regional center in Uzbekistan to be directly connected to Delhi via an air bridge. Uzbekistan's aviation authorities are currently exploring the possibility of launching flights to India from other regions of the country.

-  This route offers great convenience and exciting travel opportunities to India for those of us living in the Fergana Valley, - said passenger Mukhabbat Rakhimova. - Previously, we had to spend 5–6 hours just to reach the international airport in Tashkent. Today, our children are waiting for us in Namangan, and after landing at the local airport, we’ll be home with our families in just half an hour. We are very grateful for this."

Currently, in addition to “Uzbekistan Airways”, “Centrum Air” operates flights from Tashkent to Delhi. “Qanot Sharq” is also expected to launch services between the two capitals. This ensures the consistent implementation of the goals set by the head of state to expand the geography of international flights to and from Uzbekistan.

-  This is the first time I have participated in such a colourful event for a new flight route launch, - noted Dmitry Maisko from Russia. - We are confident that this new destination will be very popular among international passengers.

-  The launch of these flights is, above all, a testament to the immense attention our country's leadership pays to the development of the tourism sector, - noted Kizlarkhon Begmatova, press secretary of Uzbekistan Airways. - We continue our active efforts to create favourable conditions for the public, bridging distances between cities through new air links and developing comfortable new flight routes.

The new service opens additional opportunities for increasing tourism exchange between the two countries. Last year, more than 82,000 Indian tourists visited Uzbekistan, and this year, that figure is expected to reach 100 thousand for the first time.