Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Air Marakanda began cooperation with China Southern Airlines, within which the first flight to Urumqi was launched for the first time in history. The airline became the first carrier to operate flights to Samarkand from China.

The opening ceremony of the flight to Urumqi took place at the terminal of Samarkand International Airport, where a thematic photo zone, a tea ceremony with sweet treats, and an area for calligraphic inscriptions in Chinese, which were made on Samarkand mulberry paper, were organized for passengers of the first flight to Urumqi.

The opening ceremony of the first flight was attended by the management of Air Marakanda and China Southern Airlines, as well as the head of the Samarkand regional branch of the Civil Service Development Agency under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Rustam Kobilov.

According to tradition, the aircraft was greeted with a water arch at the airfield of Samarkand Airport, and the first passengers arriving from China were greeted by musicians to the sounds of karnay and surnay.

As part of the event, a press conference was also held with the participation of General Director of Air Marakanda Anton Khojayan, Deputy General Director for Commerce of Air Marakanda Artem Pak, Head of the Samarkand regional branch of the Civil Service Development Agency under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Rustam Kobilov and General Director of the representative office of China Southern Airlines in Tashkent Shena Yi. 

During the press conference, participants noted the great potential of the launched air service between Samarkand and Urumqi, and also discussed further prospects for development in the field of tourism and trade between the two states. In addition, the participants voiced plans for the further opening of new routes from China to Samarkand in the near future.

The opening of direct flights from China to Samarkand became a logical continuation of the Great Silk Road founded many centuries ago.

Now it will be possible to fly to the political, economic and cultural center of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in the northwestern part of China from Samarkand on Mondays at 01:30 am. The return flight from Urumqi International Airport to Samarkand is scheduled for 23:20 on Sundays. All flights will be operated on modern Boeing 737-800 aircraft in a two-class configuration - business class and economy class.