TRIP REPORT
I flew with Uzbekistan Airways on the scheduled Bukhara - Istanbul service, operated by an Airbus A320. Flight time was just under five hours, with an on-time arrival.
Bukhara Airport
Bukhara is one of Uzbekistan’s most historic cities, and its airport reflects its regional role. The airport handles only a handful of daily flights, mostly to Russia (primarily Moscow), with Istanbul being one of the few major non-CIS destinations. It is clearly a point-to-point airport, not a hub.
Security is layered:
• First screening outside the terminal
• Second check at the terminal entrance
Check-in was fast and efficient, with no meaningful queues.
The terminal is basic but clean, with limited amenities and a small duty-free shop. Entirely functional for the traffic it handles.
Boarding & Load Factor
Boarding was done on foot across the apron, using stairs.
The flight operated with a load factor above 90%, indicating strong demand on the route.
Aircraft & Cabin
The flight was operated by an Airbus A320. Cabin was generally clean; however, fabric seats showed some dust, likely climate-related 8/10. Legroom was excellent (10/10), clearly above average for an A320 in this region.
Cabin Crew
Cabin crew performance was outstanding. The flight attendant assigned to my section (early 20s) was highly professional, confident, and attentive. Training quality was immediately evident. Crew: 10/10.
Inflight Entertainment
BYOD IFE system accessed via personal devices:
• Easy connection
• Movies, music, games, moving map
• Perfectly adequate for a sub-four-hour flight.
Catering
Food quality exceeded expectations:
• Meals were fully sealed in aluminium containers, resulting in no trolley odours
• Beef with rice was very good: natural taste, no artificial aftertaste
• Vegetables were fresh and well prepared
Presentation was simple, but execution was strong. One of the better short-haul meals recently.
Flight & Landing
Smooth flight throughout.
Touchdown was excellent (10/10) - controlled and professional.
Verdict
Uzbekistan Airways delivers a solid and well-executed product, at least on par with the regional average, and in some areas clearly above it — notably crew quality, legroom, catering, and landing performance.
This is not a flashy airline. Instead, it focuses on fundamentals done right: good training, honest food, generous seating comfort, and disciplined operations.
Onward Connection
The onward flight to Ljubljana was with Turkish Airlines. A short stop was made at the IGA Lounge at Istanbul Airport.
This visit (around the fifth in 2025) was better than usual, though the lounge remains extremely large and the experience quickly deteriorates when overcrowded - clearly a space where passenger volume defines everything.
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Great trip report, thank you very much!
ReplyDeleteUzbekistan Airways looks like a great airline.
Any idea what were the load factors on your flights?
Agree, great report about a very good airline. The destination is very interesting and unusual for our region. The load is written in the article - above 90%.
DeleteCould you get wine or beer with the meal?
ReplyDeleteI will never understand the need for comments on the crew's age/looks (the latter not present here but have also seen in mentioned in others).
ReplyDeleteThat legroom looks terrible.
ReplyDelete