TezJet Airlines has announced the commencement of regular passenger flights on the Bishkek-Tashkent route, with the inaugural flight set for September 3, 2024. The airline plans to operate these flights using McDonnell Douglas MD-80 (M83) aircraft, Uzbekistan Airports reported.

The Bishkek-Tashkent-Bishkek route will be serviced four times a week, specifically on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. This new service aims to enhance connectivity between the two cities, providing more travel options for passengers.

TezJet, established in 2013, is a Kyrgyz airline based at Manas Airport in Bishkek. It primarily operates flights to various destinations within Kyrgyzstan.

Uzbek-Kyrgyz relations have progressed notably in recent years. Since President Mirziyoyev’s administration started, he has worked with four Kyrgyz leaders—Almazbek Atambayev, Sooronbay Jeenbekov, Talant Mamytov, and Sadyr Japarov—with various outcomes. Although a treaty of friendship was signed between Kyrgyzstan’s Askar Akaev and Uzbekistan’s Islam Karimov, it did not lead to results due to past border tensions and ethnic clashes. 

Mirziyoyev’s regional strategy has led to progress, particularly with the 2022 agreements on border demarcation and joint water management. These agreements, along with recent trade partnerships, have strengthened bilateral relations. 

As of January-May 2024, Uzbekistan’s trade turnover with Kyrgyzstan was about $294mn. The “Program of Strategic Trade and Economic Partnership for 2023-2025” and related agreements focus on cooperation in energy, agriculture, and key industries.

Plans are in place to increase trade to $2bn by 2030 under the “Action Plan for Increasing the Volume of Mutual Trade,” with a focus on agriculture, industry, transport, and tourism. The Uzbek-Kyrgyz Development Fund, with industrial cooperation at $300mn, will have its capital increased to $200mn to support further projects.