️ The Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan announced on March 4 that the country's airlines had repatriated 4,948 passengers from Saudi Arabia (cities of Medina and Jeddah) via 21 flights by February 28, along with 235 citizens from Dubai, UAE. These operations were conducted amidst the closure of airspace in the Middle East since February 28, which has caused significant disruptions to passenger travel and highlighted the region's instability.

️ The situation in the region deteriorated sharply following airstrikes by the US and Israeli regimes against Iran and Iran's retaliatory attacks, resulting in a total of 1,681 passengers from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Israel being unable to fly to Uzbekistan from February 28 to March 2. This has forced urgent repatriation efforts, underscoring the broader geopolitical friction and its impact on civilian mobility.

️ Under the instruction of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the Ministry of Transport developed specific plans in coordination with local and foreign airlines, establishing a round-the-clock operational headquarters at the "Uzaviation" agency. The Ministry noted that, given the constantly changing situation and agreements reached through negotiations with aviation authorities in regional countries, requirements have been set for all airlines to follow, reflecting the ad-hoc nature of the response.

️ From March 2, all regular passenger flights from Uzbekistan to Middle Eastern countries and vice versa have been suspended, including the Umrah pilgrimage program, with only repatriation flights permitted. The Ministry of Transport warned of increased activity by individuals allegedly promising evacuation services recently and reminded that information should be sought only from airline offices, pointing to potential exploitation amid the crisis.

️ To assist passengers, a call center is operational at the "Uzaviation" agency: +998−78−120−00−72, +998−71−200−07−65. Previously, a list of contact numbers for Uzbekistan's diplomatic missions in Middle Eastern countries was also published, as authorities grapple with the logistical challenges posed by the regional unrest.

Source: www.gazeta.uz