Uzbekistan Airways has taken another step towards launching flights between Tashkent and Warsaw after securing an additional pair of slots at Warsaw Chopin Airport. The national carrier of Uzbekistan now has the rights it needs to operate a second weekly rotation on the route.
The slots were temporarily lent by Polish Airlines LOT under a practice known as slot babysitting. The arrangement allows another airline to use take-off and landing rights without permanently transferring them.
The development marks progress for a route that has been under discussion as Uzbekistan Airways looks to expand its network in Europe. It also reflects cooperation between the two carriers at one of Poland’s busiest airports.
Slots are among the most valuable assets in aviation, particularly at coordinated airports where demand exceeds availability. Airlines must secure them before they can schedule regular flights, and access can determine whether a route is commercially viable.
For Uzbekistan Airways, the extra slot pair opens the way to increase capacity on the Tashkent-Warsaw service. A second weekly frequency could make the route more attractive to business travellers, visiting friends and relatives, and passengers connecting beyond the two capitals.
Warsaw Chopin Airport, the main hub for Poland’s flag carrier, operates under tight slot controls. These rules help manage traffic flow and runway use, but they can also make it difficult for new or smaller operators to enter competitive markets.
Slot babysitting is sometimes used when an airline cannot fully use its allocated rights, but does not want them to be lost. In this case, LOT has temporarily lent the operating rights, giving Uzbekistan Airways the chance to test or build the route before any longer-term arrangement.
The move does not by itself confirm when the second weekly flight will begin, but it indicates that preparations are advancing. Airlines usually need to align slots, aircraft scheduling, sales and operational approvals before launching a new service.
Uzbekistan Airways has been expanding its international reach in recent years, and Europe remains an important market. A connection to Warsaw would add another link between Central Asia and the European Union, where passenger demand has grown on several long-haul routes.
For passengers, a direct service would reduce the need for connecting flights through other hubs. For the airports involved, it would strengthen links between Poland and Uzbekistan, which have both business and leisure travel potential.
