Chinese airlines are steadily increasing their presence in Central Asia and the Caucasus by expanding the number of flights and destinations across the region. On September 10, following negotiations between Uzbekistan and China, an agreement was reached to boost the number of flights by China Southern Airlines. The airline will increase flights on the Beijing–Tashkent route from four to seven per week, while the Urumqi–Tashkent route will see an increase from three to four flights weekly. Additionally, in 2025, China Southern Airlines will launch three weekly flights on the Guangzhou–Urumqi–Tashkent route, according to Uzbekistan's Ministry of Transport.
China Southern Airlines also commenced flights to Armenia, with the Urumqi–Yerevan route now being served twice a week using Boeing 737-800 aircraft. This expansion strengthens the airline’s presence across seven countries in the Central Asia/Caspian/Caucasus region, which includes Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
Meanwhile, Air China is considering passenger flights between Tbilisi and Urumqi, with a proposed frequency of three times per week using Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The potential launch date for these flights is set for mid-September, according to Georgia's Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development.
In addition to passenger services, Chinese cargo carriers are also expanding operations in the region. SF Airlines, China’s largest cargo airline, has increased the frequency of its Urumqi–Tbilisi flights. The airline’s Boeing 757F aircraft will now operate twice a week, primarily transporting e-commerce goods.
Tashkent, Uzbekistan's capital, welcomed the first cargo flight from North-Western Cargo International Airlines (NWCIA) on September 4. The airline currently operates weekly flights on the Xi'an–Tashkent route using Boeing 757-200 aircraft, with plans to increase the frequency to three flights per week.
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