On June 12, the Minister of Transport signed a Decree introducing Open Sky policy at Uzbekistan airports, the Ministry of Transport reported.

This Decree was reportedly developed in pursuance of the president’s Measures to radically improve the public administration system in the field of transport decree of February 1, 2019 decrees and the Measures to further develop the tourism sector in the Republic of Uzbekistan decree of August 13, 2019 in order to increase the effectiveness of the civil aviation and tourism reforms.

The Open Skies will be introduced from August 1, 2020, valid for two years until the end of the IATA Winter 2022/2023 season, with the possibility of further extension or change of the terms at the airports of Karshi, Nukus, Termez, Bukhara, Navoi, Urgench, Andijan, Fergana , Namangan and Samarkand with the use of the 5th freedom of air.

In accordance with the Decere, the Open Skies policy will be introduced at the airports of Karshi, Nukus, Termez, Bukhara, Navoi and Urgench without any restrictions, at the airports of Andijan, Fergana, Namangan and Samarkand - with the provision of international flights to all foreign airlines civil aviation organizations the right to perform passenger flights to these airports without frequency restrictions, taking into account the technical capabilities of airports, including the 5th air freedom, on routes that are not operated by designated carriers of Uzbekistan.

In accordance with this Decree, foreign airlines are granted the right to operate cargo flights up to the 7th air freedom at the airports of Navoi and Termez.

Foreign airlines interested in launching new routes or planning to increase the number of flights must submit the necessary documents to the Aviation Agency under the Ministry of Transport and the Air Transport Development Department in the prescribed manner.