Justin Wastnage/LONDON
Uzbekistan Airways plans to use Birmingham as a UK stopover on a proposed transatlantic route to New York. The airline has gained landing rights and is in final negotiations with the UK Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR), for the right to pick up passengers in Birmingham. The DETR says it has given the Uzbekis its proposal and was awaiting a response.
Fifth freedom rights for regional airports in the UK are not conditional on reciprocal agreements, although British Mediterranean, a British Airways franchise operator, has been granted rights for the Uzbeki capital Tashkent, but has yet to take up its authority. BMed is increasing the volume of its Central Asian flights in its 2001 schedule with additional services to Azerbaijan, Kyrgystan and Iran.
Pakistan International Airlines is the only fifth freedom operator which uses a regional airport in the UK - it flies through Manchester on its transatlantic routes. Air-India uses Heathrow as a stopover for its New York flights.
Birmingham is seen as an attractive alternative by the Uzbeki airline as its country lies geographically close to the Punjab, the Indian province where many of UK region's Asian community have their roots. The carrier is seeking to establish Tashkent as a regional business hub for central and southern Asia.
The Uzbeki flag carrier is planning to start flying across the Atlantic in July, but the final destination is subject to landing rights negotiations. New York's JFK is the most likely destination, with the Canadian cities of Toronto and Hamilton as reserves.
Uzbekistan Airways is expected to use one of its three Boeing 767-300ERs for the twice-weekly service, but the carrier admits it has capacity problems. It has placed an order with Boeing for additional 767s, but these are not due for delivery until late next year.
Source: Flight International
