I suspect that most people might not share my excitement, but this might be the most intriguing new long haul service we’ve seen to the United States in a long time, purely in terms of how unknown the airline is to many people. And there’s little I love more than boarding a flight where I…
Continue reading: Uzbekistan’s Qanot Sharq Launching Tashkent To New York Flights: COOL!
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
I still remember your trip to Uzbekistan almost a decade ago. A local gave a thumbs up on Obama & Trump and a thumbs down to Bush on your train ride; Alrigthy then. And they kept on insisting they invite you over.
I learned about their existence only last year so this is fascinating! I’m surprised they’re able to get a 5pm departure slot since that seems to be in the peak evening bank for JFK. I was expecting a midday departure.
In the A330 picture, what's that giant robot in the background that's exhaling fire and stomping on and destroying Tashkent? Or is it a friendly Transformer?
The coolest thing about Qanot Sharq is that it’s one of the only airlines in the world — aside from Aer Lingus, Iberia, Qantas, American and IndiGo — to operate the A321XLR. HOW COOL!!!
Was doing some wiki research on what could make an interesting review trip. You would fly Qanot Sharq to Tashkent.
For your return journey I was thinking Air China from Tashkent to Beijing (I don't remember you reviewing them too recently) and then test out Vietnam Airlines long haul, you would fly from Beijing to Ho Chi Minh City. From there fly Vietnam long haul from Ho Chi Minh City to SFO.
Feel like this is most likely be a seasonal route and only on this summer... bear in mind that the world cup is taking place in June and July over in the US and Uzbekistan have qualified for the first time in their history, so that combined with ex-US leisure travel will probably allow for load factors to be decent enough even with UZ also operating the route.
FWIW Qanot Sharq also has flights to London, Frankfurt and Milan (not sure off the top of my head if they fly anywhere else in Europe)
If they add routes to India, they’ll could become a good substitute for Gulf carriers.
14hr flights, in a high-fuel environment, with only 18 premium seats to pay for it.
May as well put the cash into the fuel tanks, and burn that instead, for all the effect it'll have.
Regardless, always cool to see a new intercontinental carrier stateside, for however long it lasts.
I believe you only spent time in Tashkent on your last trip, right? I highly recommend going back and traveling around. Uzbekistan has SO much to offer and it's a very easy place to travel.
I have flown their A320 on a 25 minute hop intra-UZ. Was dirt cheap but the whole experience was, welp, something. But they got me back to Tashkent (even if with a 5 hour delay) and even gave me a cuppa tea and a water within those 25 mins on a $16 ticket.
I’m really looking forward to this review! I’ve been fascinated by the airline ever since I saw Noel’s Youtube video.
The picture was taken in Bali Airport. The looming statue in the background is Garuda Wisnu Kencana, which depicts deities from the local belief system. Regardless, its construction was not without controversy.
Lol wrong blog.
This is not a travel around blog, we'll maybe if there is a chain hotel?
I like the idea of TAS to Bishkek on Uzbekistan Airlines; Bishkek to Almaty on Air Astana, and Hunnu Air from ALA to UlaanBataar.
Going to any country ending in "STAN" right now is complete insanity! And to fly on some subpar carrier who probably doesnt even have real champagne or lie flat seats is even more insane. Also, subjecting yourself to Tashkent airport? Really? The place needs to improve asap
Uzbekistan (both Tashkent and Samarkand) was my best trip in years. LAX-DOH-TAS on QR for only 20,000 AS points OW. But it turned out to be the people, architecture and food that surprised me in all the right ways. Thanks for the memories. No matter how you get there, I can’t imagine anyone not falling in love with this part of Central Asia. Even if it is lumped in with the other -stans.
I spotted one Qanot Sharq A330 today at Naples Airport in Italy in manteniance area, and was quite a surprise ,suppose some updating relating maybe to this new route to New York.