Centrum Air Plans Tashkent Hub and Major 2025 Expansion
Centrum Air (Tashkent International) intends to establish Tashkent as a pivotal hub within its expanding route network, leveraging Uzbekistan’s strategic location to connect Europe and Asia. According to CEO Hussein Sherif Fahmi, the airline aims to transition to a hub-and-spoke model by the 2025 Northern Hemisphere summer. The choice of Tashkent as a central node in the network is designed to attract transiting passengers and compete effectively with established carriers capitalizing on similar geographical advantages.
Currently, Centrum Air operates flights from Tashkent to destinations like Colombo International, Doha Hamad International, Dubai International, Guangzhou, Istanbul Sabiha Gökcen, and Salalah, as well as from Fergana to Sharm el Sheikh. Fahmi’s ambition is to grow this portfolio significantly by next summer, targeting a total of 34 airports served. The planned expansion for 2025 includes adding more airports in East Asia, such as Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, Sanya, Seoul Incheon, and Guangzhou, complementing existing routes and increasing the airline’s overall appeal to travelers seeking efficient one-stop connections.
Beyond East Asia, the airline intends to broaden its presence in multiple key markets. In the Middle East, it will add Jeddah International and Madinah, while also targeting new destinations like Dabaa and Tel Aviv Ben Gurion. Within the Eurasian region, it seeks to serve airports such as Gazipasa, Batumi, Tbilisi, St. Petersburg, Moscow Vnukovo, Kazan International, Astana Nursultan Nazarbayev, Novosibirsk, Almaty International, Namangan, Dushanbe, Termez, Bukhara, and Urgench. These routes tap into Central Asia’s rapidly growing aviation sector, offering connections to a mix of established business centers and emerging tourist hotspots.
Crucially, Centrum Air’s strategic ambitions extend into the highly competitive European Union market. Fahmi plans to launch services to major European gateways, including Milan Malpensa, Frankfurt International, and Copenhagen Kastrup. Entry into the EU market will enhance the airline’s global profile, attract higher-yield passengers, and diversify its revenue base. With European flights in the mix, Tashkent can position itself as a well-connected crossroads for travelers moving between East and West.
Centrum Air operates as a virtual carrier established in January 2023, utilizing aircraft operated under the Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) of its parent company, My Freighter (C6, Tashkent International). At present, its fleet comprises four A320-200s, one A321-200N, and one A321-200NX, giving it a robust short- and medium-haul platform well-suited to a hub model. To support its ambitious growth plans, Fahmi intends to double the fleet by mid-2025. The airline aims to add two more A320-200s, two A320-200Ns, one A321N, and three A330-300s, thereby increasing capacity and range. The addition of A330 widebody aircraft will allow for greater operational flexibility, improved comfort, and the possibility of longer-haul missions, particularly into Europe.
My Freighter’s existing European Union Third Country Operator (TCO) authorization enables Centrum Air to launch passenger operations under its own brand, simplifying regulatory processes. This smooth pathway into Europe aligns well with Centrum Air’s overall strategy, reinforcing Tashkent’s potential as a truly global transit hub linking continents and catering to a diverse passenger base.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com