Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Ma Yining) news: At 4:55 a.m. on April 19, 2025, Flight HY571 from Fergana, Uzbekistan, landed at the north terminal area of Urumqi Tianshan International Airport, marking the opening of the Urumqi-Fergana route.

It is the first direct flight route to Fergana in China. The route is operated by Uzbekistan Airways. Flight HY571 departs from Fergana at 2:15 a.m. every Friday and arrives in Urumqi at 4:35 a.m. Flight HY572 departs from Urumqi at 6:05 a.m. every Saturday and arrives in Fergana at 8:35 a.m.

Photo shows staff celebrate the successful inaugural flight of the Urumqi-Fergana route. (Photo by Pan Jingyuan)

"The newly opened route takes only over an hour to arrive, making it very convenient to come to China," said Lin Na, a tourist from Uzbekistan.

Fergana, a city in Uzbekistan, is located in the Fergana Valley. It is one of the youngest but fastest-growing cities in Uzbekistan. It has been a renowned center for silk production since ancient times and is also a popular tourist destination in Central Asia. Fergana is only 78 kilometers away from the terminal city of Andijan, which is about to start construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway. The newly opened route will further assist in the construction of the project and provide more convenience for business exchanges between China and Uzbekistan.

At present, Urumqi Tianshan International Airport has launched three passenger routes to and from Uzbekistan. As of April 21 this year, the number of inbound passengers from Uzbekistan has reached over 7,000, accounting for 9.6 percent of the total number of inbound foreigners, second only to Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. Urumqi Tianshan International Airport currently operates 23 international passenger routes with 17 countries (regions).

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