Uzbekistan’s Centrum Air has commenced scheduled flights between Tashkent and Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA), establishing a new air link between Sri Lanka and Central Asia. The inaugural flight arrived at Mattala on 28 October 2026.
The airline plans to operate two weekly flights on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with evening departures from Tashkent and return services from Mattala.
Royal Spence Aviation, a partner company of Aitken Spence Travels, has been appointed as Centrum Air’s General Sales Agent (GSA) and Airport Supervision Agent in Sri Lanka.
The new route is expected to strengthen air connectivity between Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan, create additional travel opportunities and attract visitors from emerging Central Asian tourism markets. It will also provide Sri Lankan travellers with easier access to Uzbekistan’s historic Silk Road destinations, including Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva.
The service is expected to support Sri Lanka’s tourism industry and create opportunities for hotels, tour operators, transport providers and other businesses across the tourism value chain. The use of Mattala as the arrival gateway also offers opportunities to promote attractions in the country’s Southern and Eastern regions.
