Uzbekistan and Indonesia have reached an agreement to significantly increase air traffic between the two countries, raising the number of weekly flights from just 3 to 28, according to Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Transport.
The agreement was the result of recent talks in Jakarta between Uzbekistan’s aviation delegation, led by Ambassador Oybek Eshonov, and Indonesian civil aviation authorities. The discussions focused on enhancing civil aviation cooperation, with special attention to expanding pilgrimage tourism.
Representatives from major Indonesian airlines — AirAsia, Batik Air, and Garuda Indonesia — participated in the negotiations. They explored the launch of regular passenger and cargo flights and discussed potential collaboration under the Umrah Plus program and wider tourist transportation across Central Asia and Indonesia.
Under the new arrangement, the weekly flight quota will include 14 passenger and 14 cargo flights. The agreement also removes restrictions on the number of airlines allowed to operate between the two countries.
Uzbek airlines will now be permitted to operate flights beyond Jakarta to 11 additional Indonesian cities, including Denpasar (Bali), Yogyakarta, Lombok, Surabaya, Medan, and Banda Aceh. Half of the flights to Denpasar will be operated under code-sharing agreements. Meanwhile, Indonesian carriers will gain access to all international airports in Uzbekistan.
Crucially, the deal lifts previous limitations on aircraft passenger and cargo capacities and grants both sides expanded air traffic rights, including the 3rd, 4th, and 5th freedoms of the air for cargo flights.
The new agreement replaces the previous 1995 bilateral aviation agreement between Uzbekistan Airways and Indonesian authorities. It is set to be approved at the intergovernmental level in the coming months.
The agreements are expected to boost the number of airlines operating between Uzbekistan and Indonesia, support the growth of pilgrimage tourism through the Umrah Plus program, and expand both passenger and cargo air traffic. They will also help facilitate the free movement of tourists and strengthen bilateral trade and economic ties.
Uzbekistan’s airline Qanot Sharq, in cooperation with Asialux Travel, currently operates seasonal charter flights between Tashkent and Denpasar (Bali). Meanwhile, Uzbekistan’s Embassy in Indonesia is actively promoting the country’s tourism potential through information and awareness campaigns aimed at increasing international interest in Uzbekistan as a travel destination.
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