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 don’t know what to expect.
In this post:
Qanot Sharq will start flying to the United States
Qanot Sharq has announced that it plans to launch flights between Tashkent and New York. The flight is expected to commence as of May 3, 2026, with flights operating twice per week, with the following schedule, as reported by AeroRoutes:
HH101 Tashkent to New York departing 11:20AM arriving 3:40PM
HH102 New York to Tashkent departing 5:10PM arriving 2:40PM (+1 day)
The 6,338-mile flight will operate on Wednesdays and Sundays in both directions, and is blocked at 13hr20min westbound and 12hr30min eastbound. Tickets should go on sale soon. The airline will use an Airbus A330-200 for the route, featuring 266 seats. This includes 18 business class seats and 248 economy class seats.
For what it’s worth, Uzbekistan Airways also operates this route (I reviewed business class back in 2017) with up to five weekly flights. Interestingly, the airline uses the same flight number, with its code, of course — HY101/102.
Wait, what is Qanot Sharq, anyway?
I imagine that even most avgeek OMAAT readers haven’t heard of Qanot Sharq, so let’s talk about that a bit. The current iteration of the airline only launched in 2021, so it’s still a pretty new operation.
The airline is based in Tashkent, and has an all-Airbus fleet consisting of seven aircraft, including two A320s, two A321neos, one A321XLR, and two A330-200s. Rather oddly, the airline also plans to take delivery of A321LRs. It’s very odd to see such a small operator get the A321neo, A321LR, and A321XLR, but I digress…
Uzbekistan is a fast growing market, and Qanot Sharq seems to largely serve more leisure oriented routes, and generally has better pricing than Uzbekistan Airways. Vlogger Noel Philips recently reviewed Qanot Sharq’s A330 business class, and he had the cabin all to himself. FUN!
Often airlines will launch long haul flights to New York out of prestige. Is that what’s going on here? Well, Uzbekistan Airways has done quite well in the market, as I understand it, and ultimately this is a good option for accessing Central Asia.
That being said, Qanot Sharq will have to aggressively compete on price, since the airline doesn’t have as good of a passenger experience as Uzbekistan Airways, and also doesn’t have as big of a network for connectivity.
This will be the carrier’s longest route to date, as the airline otherwise flies A330s to China, South Korea, Thailand, etc. You can bet I’ll be taking this flight, as I’d love to visit Uzbekistan again!
The carrier’s two A330s are an average of 15 years old, though the airline only took delivery of the planes in 2024-2025. Both are former Air China planes, with business class consisting of flat beds in a 2-2-2 configuration. There’s no Wi-Fi, and… no alcohol!
Bottom line
Tashkent to New York will soon become a route operated by two airlines, as Qanot Sharq will be launching service in the market as of May 2026. The airline will operate the route twice weekly with Airbus A330s, and it’s a very cool addition.
I look forward to checking out this flight, and it might be easier to review than Uzbekistan Airways, which has a no photography policy.
What do you make of Qanot Sharq flying to the United States?
Why won’t it fly over closed Russian airspace?
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.
I thought it said “Qanon Sharkq”.
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.
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
I’m really looking forward to this review! I’ve been fascinated by the airline ever since I saw Noel’s Youtube video.
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.
Wait… so, like, a second Uzbek carrier coming to NYC? Bah!
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.
@Ben - add on a trip to Bukhara and Samarkand when you try out this new route
Lol wrong blog.
This is not a travel around blog, we'll maybe if there is a chain hotel?
There is a Movenpick hotel in Samarkand
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.
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...
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.
I think they also fly to BCN seasonally as well.
Airlines have really jumped the Sharq with some of these new routes!
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.
I like the idea of TAS to Bishkek on Uzbekistan Airlines; Bishkek to Almaty on Air Astana, and Hunnu Air from ALA to UlaanBataar.
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!!!
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 newest Trump Mech Tower
Patung Garuda Wisnu Kencana in Bali.
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.
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.
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.