Etihad Airways Signs Memorandum of Co-operation with the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan
- Agreement set to promote tourism marketing and trade across the UAE and Uzbekistan
- Announcement follows successful launch of daily non-stop flights between Abu Dhabi and Tashkent this summer
Etihad Airways has signed a Memorandum of Co-operation (MoC) with the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan, strengthening ties between the airline and the Republic of Uzbekistan. The agreement was signed during Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026 in Dubai.
The MoC will promote tourism to Uzbekistan through Etihad’s extensive global network, with both organisations collaborating on marketing, promotional activities and trade initiatives designed to raise the profile of Uzbekistan with the airline’s international guests.
The agreement was signed by Aysha Saeed Al Kaabi, Vice President Commercial Enablement at Etihad Airways, and Mr. Abdulaziz Akkulov, Chairman of the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan.
Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: “Uzbekistan is one of the most exciting new markets in our network, demonstrated by the launch of our daily service to Tashkent this year, and further reinforced by this Memorandum of Cooperation with the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan to drive leisure travel. Etihad’s extensive global network, together with our growing codeshare partnership with Uzbekistan Airways, makes it easier than ever for travellers to discover Samarkand, Bukhara and beyond, supporting tourism growth in the market.”
Mr. Abdulaziz Akkulov, Chairman of the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan, said: “Today, Uzbekistan’s tourism industry continues to show steady growth. Between January and August 2026, 9.1 million foreign tourists visited the country, while tourism service exports reached USD 4.6 billion. Our priority is not only to sustain this growth, but also to expand the reach of inbound tourism, improve access to destinations across the country, and strengthen Uzbekistan’s presence in international tourism markets. The Memorandum will support our efforts to advance these priorities and attract more international visitors to Uzbekistan.”
The partnership builds on Etihad’s expanding presence in Uzbekistan. The airline launched its first-ever route to the country on 9 August 2026, with a daily non-stop Airbus A320 service between Abu Dhabi and Tashkent, opening a new gateway to Central Asia.
This complemented a codeshare agreement with Uzbekistan Airways, effective from 15 May 2026, giving Etihad’s guests single-ticket access to eight further Uzbek destinations, Samarkand, Bukhara, Urgench, Nukus, Termez, Fergana, Namangan and Andijan, as well as other key routes on the Uzbek carrier’s network.
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