Uzbekistan’s fast-growing airline Centrum Air is preparing to expand its footprint in India with a special focus on South India. By the summer of 2026, the airline will launch direct flights from Hyderabad and Bengaluru to Tashkent, opening new travel opportunities for students, tourists, and business travellers across the region.

The new South India connections are part of Centrum Air’s larger strategy to cater to the surging demand for travel between India and Uzbekistan. A major factor behind this expansion is the sharp rise in Indian students choosing Uzbekistan for medical studies. Currently, about 12,000 students from India are enrolled there, but that figure is expected to rise to 35,000–40,000 in the next few years. With more direct flights from Hyderabad and Bengaluru, students from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu will enjoy shorter, more convenient travel.

Beyond students, the new services are also expected to attract leisure travellers and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) groups from South India. Uzbekistan’s historic cities like Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva are gaining popularity among Indian tourists for their ancient monuments, vibrant bazaars, and rich cultural traditions. The country’s easy e-visa system and reputation for safe, family-friendly travel make it especially appealing for first-time international travellers.

Centrum Air will first begin its India operations with twice-weekly Delhi–Tashkent flights starting October 3, 2025, using modern A320neo aircraft. The South India expansion will follow soon after, in 2026, with Hyderabad and Bengaluru flights. Although Mumbai is not part of the immediate plan, the airline has indicated that it may consider adding services there later, depending on demand.

To provide more options, Centrum Air will also connect Tashkent to Frankfurt in December 2025, followed by Copenhagen and Milan in 2026. These onward routes will make it easier for South Indian passengers to travel to Europe via Tashkent. The airline is also in talks with IndiGo and other carriers to establish codeshare partnerships, which would give travellers more seamless connections within India and abroad.