The American airline United Airlines is studying the potential of opening direct air routes to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Representatives of the carrier visited both countries to assess possible new routes, but the implementation of plans is complicated by restrictions on using Russian airspace.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby announced this during the podcast Cheeky Pint, published on October 27. He mentioned that Patrick Quail, the airline's Senior Vice President of Global Network Planning and Alliances, traveled to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan this year.
Kirby presented this trip as an example of the airline's efforts to seek destinations outside traditional tourist markets. Nevertheless, he did not name specific cities that could be added to the network, potential departure airports in the United States, or the anticipated start date.
The CEO stated: 'We cannot fly there today because we cannot fly over Russia. But perhaps it will be possible in the future.' The closure of Russian airspace to American airlines remains one of the main obstacles to creating routes to Central Asia. Bypassing Russia increases flight duration and may affect the commercial viability of such services.
Direct air connections between Uzbekistan and the United States already exist. Uzbekistan Airways operates flights between Tashkent and New York using Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The private airline Qanot Sharq also began operating direct flights on this route in March 2026.
United Airlines' potential entry into this market would mark the appearance of an American carrier on a route currently served by Central Asian airlines. Currently, no American airline operates regular direct passenger flights to Uzbekistan or Kazakhstan.
Meanwhile, Kazakhstan's Air Astana plans to start flights to New York in the second half of 2027. Initially, the airline is considering running two flights per week. To open this route, it will need to bypass Russian airspace, which will increase flight time and potentially require limitations on aircraft payload.
According to Air Astana CEO Ibragim Kanliyel, access to Russian airspace would reduce travel time by approximately two hours and eliminate payload restrictions.
Kirby also noted that United Airlines already transports passengers traveling to Kazakhstan through a partnership with Lufthansa. This indicates existing demand for travel between the United States and Kazakhstan, although the CEO did not announce any specific plans to launch new routes.
