I went on a part holiday, part work trip to Central Asia in August 2025. I've already been to all five Central Asian countries but this time I wanted to go to some places I hadn't been before: Dushanbe amd Khorog in Tajikistan, Astana in Kazakhstan and Khiva in Uzbekistan.
Here's my full itinerary:
Keflavík to Budapest, Wizz, economy – no flight report
Budapest to Istanbul, Turkish Airlines, business
Istanbul to Dushanbe, Turkish Airlines, business
Khorog to Dushanbe, Tajik Air, economy
Dushanbe to Astana, Somon Air, economy
Astana to Tashkent, Uzbekistan Airways, business
Tashkent to Khiva, Uzbekistan Airways, economy – you’re here
Khiva to Tashkent, Uzbekistan Airways, economy
Tashkent to Istanbul, Turkish Airlines, business
Istanbul to Warsaw, Turkish Airlines, business
Warsaw to Keflavík, Wizz, economy
Khiva is 1,000 km from Tashkent and the trip would take about 16 hours by car. Khiva's airport is in Urgench, a distance of 30 km. There are seven flights on most days between Tashkent and Urgench by Uzbekistan Airways, Silkavia and Centrum Air. Flight time is about 1 hour and 20 minutes. The cheapest flights cost around USD 40 each way.
I got to the airport 1 hour and 10 minutes before departure - more than enough for a domestic flight at a small airport. I had already checked in on-line the day before.
The domestic terminal building is quite nice and modern.
Actually I could have arrived even later.
I've possibly never travelled that light and my only "luggage" were my passport, my wallet and my phone. Security control took only five minutes and I was already airside.
I had a tea and a pastry with nuts at the café.
Let's see the departures: Urgench, Karshi, Fergana, Ternez, Bukhara, Nukus, Zaamin, Samarkand. There were four flights this morning to Urgench.
The terminal was full because of the morning departures but still didn't feel crowded.
Uzbekistan Airways is the biggest airline for domestic flights. Other airlines include Silkavia and Centrum Air.
Boarding started at 06.05 and was by bus. Here's our plane, an A320, registration number UK32018, built in 2011.
There's business class in a 2+2 configuration. I didn't see any interest in booking business class for such a short domestic flight. There are no airport benefits: no priority check-in, fast track or lounge are available. Seats are more comfortable and there's better catering. The additional cost is about USD 108 each way.
Economy class is in a standard 3+3 configuration. Legroom was excellent even at the regular (non emergency exit row) seat.
Load was around 75%.
The welcome message and later the safety demonstration were first in Uzbek, then in Russian, then in English.
Welcome drink (water) in economy class on a domestic flight.
Push-back was at 06.41 for a scheduled departure time of 06.40. We took off at 06.51.
A meal service was offered after take-off. I got a small sandwich, a tea and an Uzbekistan Airways branded wet towel, all this on a 1 hour 20 minutes inexpensive domestic flight.
The economy cabin seen from my seat.
We landed in Urgench at 08.00 and were at our parking position at 08.05 for a scheduled arrival time of 08.10.
Our plane after arrival.
A Turkish plane was preparing for departure next to ours.
Khiva is a fascinating place. Founded about 2,500 years ago, located on the Silk Road, it's been most of the time an important place of trade - especially slave trade. It was the centre of the powerful Khanate of Khiva from 1511. Tsarist Russia colonised it in 1873 but left the khans' throne. Khiva was the seat of the short-lived Khorezm People's Soviet Republic from 1920, then was part of Soviet Uzbekistan in 1924. Uzbekistan's independence in 1991 slowly opened it again to tourism, and nowadays it's one of the main sights of the country with it's impressive fortress, palaces, medrassas and other historical buildings.
