Wizz Air Weighs Uzbekistan Expansion To Capitalize On Market Growth

Hungary’s Wizz Air is considering expanding its presence in Uzbekistan with new routes to Europe and the potential creation of a joint airline in the country, according to Uzbekistan's Transport Ministry.

The move follows a meeting between executives from the ULCC and ministry officials during which Wizz CEO József Váradi expressed interest in increasing flights between Abu Dhabi and Uzebkistan's capital Tashkent, as well as launching air service to secondary cities in the Central Asian state, namely Namangan and Urgench.

The talks also addressed the possibility of establishing Uzbekistan as a transit hub for flights between Europe and Asia, the ministry said, and the creation of a joint airline, similar to Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, which operates in partnership with the state-owned Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company.

Additionally, Uzbek Transport Minister Ilkhom Makhkamov proposed that Wizz establish direct flights between Uzbekistan and Hungary, including the launch of a Tashkent-Budapest route by the end of 2025.

Wizz Air began operations in Uzbekistan in December 2022, launching flights between Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport (AUH) and Samarkand International Airport (SKD). The airline expanded its presence the following month with the introduction of a second route connecting Abu Dhabi and Tashkent International Airport (TAS).

According to OAG Schedules Analyser data, Wizz currently operates nine weekly flights to Tashkent, which will increase to 11X-weekly during the northern summer 2025 season. Samarkand receives five flights per week, although this will be reduced to 4X-weekly this summer. Both routes are served using Airbus A321 aircraft.

Uzbekistan is one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in Central Asia, benefiting from recent liberalization measures that have encouraged private investment and boosted inbound tourism. In 2024, Uzbekistan Airports, the government-owned entity that oversees the country’s airports, handled a record 13.5 million passengers, marking a 30% rise on the previous 12 months.

New airlines that have launched over the past two years include Air Samarkand and Centrum Air, while the likes of FlyArystan, Flyadeal, IndiGo, LOT Polish Airlines, Qatar Airways and SunExpress have entered the market.

The summer 2025 season will see more than 4.5 million departure seats from and within Uzbekistan, OAG figures show, marking a year-on-year rise of nearly 8% and up by 185% on 2019 levels.

Uzbekistan Airways will account for about 45% of capacity this summer, compared with 70% in summer 2019 when it held a monopoly on the domestic market. In response to the growing competition, the airline expanded its fleet in 2024 with two A320neos, two ATR 72s and one Let L-410 aircraft. This year, it also plans to add routes between Tashkent and Madrid, and Urgench and Rome.

Wizz has been approached for comment about the expansion plans in Uzbekistan.