Centrum Air, Uzbekistan's largest private airline, will begin seasonal nonstop service between Tashkent International Airport (TAS) and Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport in Hambantota, Sri Lanka (HRI) from October 28, 2026. Flights will operate twice weekly, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, through the end of March 2027, using Airbus A320-family aircraft (Centrum Air).
Centrum Air's own website describes the timing as targeting the dry season on Sri Lanka's southern coast, which runs from roughly November to April, noting that the route is suited for surfers and beach travelers. Regional aviation publication CentralAsia+Aero reported that Centrum Air will be the sole operator on the Tashkent-Hambantota route. The carrier had previously served Hambantota until January 2025, making this a seasonal resumption.
The launch is part of a rapid South Asian expansion by the Uzbek carrier. On September 28, 2026, Centrum Air also launched Tashkent-Hyderabad service, adding to an existing network that includes Delhi, Karachi and Lahore. The Hambantota route will become the airline's fifth destination in South Asia (CentralAsia+Aero).
Aviation Week included the announcement in its rolling network updates for the week commencing September 28, 2026, noting the route provides "direct access from Uzbekistan to southern Sri Lanka during the island's peak winter tourism season."
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