On January 21, 2026, Centrum Holding (the “Group”), an international integrated aviation and logistics and transportation group, held a meeting with representatives of the Embassy of France in the Republic of Uzbekistan, led by H.E. Mr. Walid Fouque, Ambassador of France to Uzbekistan. The meeting took place in Centrum Holding’ office and the Group was represented by its Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Abdulaziz Abdurakhmanov.
The parties discussed prospects for cooperation in civil aviation, logistics, aviation personnel training, as well as tourism and investment collaboration between France and Uzbekistan.
The French delegation highlighted the importance of Uzbekistan’s civil aviation development program until 2030, signed by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, which provides for the significant expansion of the country’s airline fleets. This includes plans to increase the total national fleet to 180 aircraft.
Abdulaziz Abdurakhmanov stated that Centrum Air, the Group’s passenger airline, will continue its development in line with its approved strategy, focusing on the operation of modern and efficient aircraft. For passenger transportation, the airline plans to utilize Airbus aircraft, including the A320, A321, and A330 families. As part of Uzbekistan’s fleet expansion goals, the Group intends to account for up to 50% or more of the country’s total fleet through the expansion of Centrum Air and My Freighter, the Group’s cargo carrier .
The parties paid special attention to the development of Centrum Air’s route network. The airline plans to launch its first scheduled flights to Europe in March 2026 with services to Frankfurt, while regular flights to Paris are expected to commence in April 2027 as part of the summer schedule.
The parties noted that leveraging Tashkent’s transit potential offers clear advantages for passengers. Thanks to its favorable geographic location, connections via Tashkent allow travelers from Europe heading to Southeast Asia to reduce total travel time by an average of up to two hours compared with other major international hubs.
Centrum Holding noted that in the cargo segment, My Freighter already operates a significant number of charter flights to European destinations, including France, Germany, Italy, and the Balkan region, highlighting the strong potential for logistics cooperation between Uzbekistan and the European Union.
The discussion also focused on aviation personnel training and retraining. The French delegation expressed readiness to develop cooperation in pilot, engineering, and ground staff training. Potential initiatives include exchange programs, training at educational centers in France, including Toulouse, as well as partnerships with specialized institutions.
The parties also discussed inbound and outbound tourism projects through Centrum Holidays. The French delegation mentioned plans to improve visa processing efficiency, which could further stimulate tourism flows.
Centrum Holding presented its vision for expanding cooperation with leading French companies and organizations, including:
CMA CGM, to develop transportation and cargo logistics solutions in Central Asia;
Safran, to develop MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Operations) services and supply aviation components;
Simaero, to develop pilot training programs;
Airbus, as well as specialized universities, to establish a private aviation training institution in Uzbekistan for flight crews and engineering personnel.
Ambassador Walid Fouque reaffirmed France’s readiness to further develop cooperation in various formats and emphasized the strong potential of bilateral projects and mutual interest in strengthening partnerships between France and Uzbekistan.
Airbus is one of the world’s leading aircraft manufacturers headquartered in France and the largest producer of commercial aircraft globally.
Safran is a major French industrial group operating in aviation, defense, and space technologies, partnering with airlines and manufacturers worldwide.
Simaero is a French company specializing in pilot training using full-flight simulators.
CMA CGM is a global leader in maritime logistics and multimodal transportation solutions.
About Centrum Holding
On March 31, Centrum Air celebrates the first anniversary of operating flights on the Tashkent – Moscow (Sheremetyevo) route, one of the key destinations in the airline’s network.Since its launch, the route has become more than just a regular air connection; it has evolved into a reliable air bridge between Uzbekistan and Russia, connecting cities, families, and business ties.During its first year of operation, the airline completed 296 flights to Sheremetyevo and 296 return flights, maintaining consistent performance and schedule reliability. A total of 106,780 passengers were transported in both directions, while the cumulative flight time reached 2,678 hours. The route maintained strong demand throughout the year, confirming its importance for both personal travel and business trips between the two countries.Throughout the year, particular attention was given to enhancing passenger services. Online check-in at Sheremetyevo Airport was introduced, options for purchasing additional baggage were expanded, pet transportation services were implemented, and priority check-in was launched. These improvements were made possible through close cooperation with Sheremetyevo Airport services, to whom the airline expresses its sincere appreciation.In addition, onboard services have been further enhanced. Passengers can now select special meal options (up to 9 choices) at the time of booking, and an onboard entertainment system has been introduced, allowing passengers to watch movies, read news and magazines, as well as purchase snacks and beverages during the flight.Over the first year, the route has demonstrated stable passenger traffic and has become an important part of Centrum Air’s international network.The airline continues to develop the route, focusing on service quality, operational reliability, and expanding travel options for passengers.
31 March, 2026
Centrum Air, Uzbekistan’s largest private airline and part of Centrum Holding, announces that it has received the Airline Retailing Maturity (ARM) Index certification from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), as well as successfully completed its first ticket sale via the New Distribution Capability (NDC) system.These milestones confirm Centrum Air’s consistent progress toward adopting a modern airline retailing model and advancing its digital distribution capabilities.Receiving the ARM Index certification demonstrates that Centrum Air meets international standards in sales management, distribution, and partner engagement. It also reflects the airline’s transition toward a more flexible and technology-driven approach in working with both travel partners and passengers.In parallel, the airline has successfully completed its first transaction through its own NDC infrastructure, providing practical confirmation of the functionality of its new Offer & Order-based system.This development opens up new opportunities for partners and customers, including greater flexibility in sales, expanded distribution channels, and the ability to deliver more personalized offerings.The successful implementation of these initiatives has been made possible through the coordinated efforts of Centrum Air’s internal teams and its technology partners.Centrum Air will continue to develop its digital ecosystem and expand its capabilities in line with NDC and IATA’s global standards.
31 March, 2026
Centrum Air will implement the Optifly platform as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance operational planning and support the airline’s continued growth across Central Asia and beyond.The airline will adopt Optifly’s scheduling solutions, including OptiSched, OptiSlots and OptiAI, to strengthen its operational planning processes and build a scalable, technology-driven environment.In line with its expansion plans, Centrum Air has been evaluating modern solutions capable of supporting growing operational complexity while ensuring efficiency and flexibility. Optifly’s platform combines advanced scheduling tools, integrated AI capabilities, and a modern user interface, enabling more streamlined planning and coordination.Abdulaziz Abdurakhmanov, CEO of Centrum Air, commented:"As we continue to develop our operations, it is important for us to adopt modern solutions that can support our growth and evolving requirements. We were looking for technology that combines usability, flexibility and intelligent capabilities. Optifly’s platform aligns well with these objectives and will support further development of our operational planning processes."Daniel Mulcahy, CCO of Optifly, said:"Centrum Air is one of the fastest-growing airlines in the region, and we are pleased to support their development. Our platform enables airlines to enhance scheduling, slot management and operational planning, while providing a pathway to more advanced optimisation as operations evolve."Clive Fernando, Head of Route Network Planning, Scheduling and Slots, added:"We sought a modern platform that integrates flight scheduling, airport slot management, and intelligent decision support in a single system. Optifly empowers our teams to operate at peak efficiency today, while providing the flexibility to scale and continuously optimize as our network continues to expand across Central Asia and beyond. By leveraging technology and data-driven insights, we are shaping the next generation of airline network operations."
31 March, 2026
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