New aviation deals raise flight limits between China and Central Asia

China has agreed to increase weekly flight limits with Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, while a separate deal between the two Central Asian neighbours will allow more services on regional routes.The agreements were reached during the third meeting of the Central Asia–China (C5+1) Working Group on Civil Aviation Cooperation, held in Tashkent.Uzbekistan and China agreed to raise the limit on weekly flights between the two countries from 100 to 114.Kazakhstan reached a separate agreement with China to increase its permitted weekly frequencies from 150 to 180, while adding Chengdu and Kashgar to the list of destinations airlines are authorised to serve.Building the 'Air Silk Road'The latest agreements build on the "Air Silk Road" initiative, which aims to open new routes and make it easier for airlines to operate across borders.In January 2024, Uzbekistan's Ministry of Transport and the Civil Aviation Administration of China signed an agreement to jointly develop the initiative.Uzbekistan now wants travellers flying from China and neighbouring Central Asian countries to Europe to be able to change planes at its airports, according to Jamoliddin Nazarov, Head of the Air Transport Department at the country's Ministry of Transport.Kyrgyzstan signed its own memorandum with China under the initiative in 2024."In 2025, working together with our Chinese colleagues, we opened a new air corridor,"