1st Direct Flight to Kyrgyzstan in 12 Years

EghtesadOnline: The first passenger flight from Tehran to Bishkek arrived at Manas International Airport on Feb. 3.

News ID: ۷۸۵۳۵۴

05 February 2020

This marks the first flight from Iran to Kyrgyzstan after 12 years, the website of Iran’s Embassy in Kyrgyzstan reported.

“The first flight from Iran arrived at Manas International Airport in Kyrgyzstan after a 12-year hiatus. The ambassador and representatives of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Kyrgyz officials and journalists took part in the ceremonial reception of passengers on the flight," Iran’s Embassy in Bishkek announced in a post on its Twitter account, according to Financial Tribune.

During the Bishkek ceremony, Iran’s new ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, Saeed Kharrazi, noted that Central Asian countries, including Kyrgyzstan, enjoy a special priority in Iran’s foreign policy, adding that the relaunch of flights between Tehran and Bishkek would increase the number of tourists as well as businesspeople visiting each other, and would improve bilateral relations.

“Currently, the two countries seek to strengthen collaboration in transportation, logistics, trading goods and abolition of different barriers,” Kharrazi said.

Director of the Civil Aviation Agency of Kyrgyzstan Kurmanbek Akyshev said the absence of direct flights between the two countries had created problems for traders, tourists and even official figures.

He added that negotiations are underway between the two sides to launch direct flights between Mashhad and Bishkek.

Damir uulu Maksat, the head of Kyrgyzstan’s Tourism Department, said 2,000 Iranian tourists visit Kyrgyzstan every year, adding that the figure is expected to increase following the launch of the new flight.

The new flights are operated by Iran's Varesh Airline.