Salam! This is Sugi from ASHU TRAVEL, your guide to the stunning landscapes of Central Asia.
This time, I flew with the Kyrgyz airline “Tez Jet” from Kyrgyzstan to Uzbekistan.
In fact, this route takes only about an hour and a half by plane.
It’s a way of getting around that makes touring Central Asia much easier.
As a resident of Kyrgyzstan, I recently traveled to Uzbekistan, so here’s my honest review of the actual flight!
[Update] In July 2026, a Tez Jet incident occurred at Manas Airport, and Tez Jet’s license at Manas Airport has been revoked. This may change in the future, but the airline is currently not available. Please read this article as a travel diary.
What Is Tez Jet?
Tez Jet is an airline based in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.
It started operating in 2013 and flies routes within Kyrgyzstan and abroad.
Based at Manas International Airport, it gives the impression of an airline that values “getting people around safely and as easily as possible.”
Its main hub is Manas International Airport (Bishkek).
Connecting Regions, Cities and Other Countries
Within Kyrgyzstan, it runs scheduled flights to areas that take a long time to reach by road, and for locals it’s one of the everyday ways of getting around.
It also operates international routes, and the convenience of flying straight from Kyrgyzstan to neighboring countries is another plus.
Destinations (from official information)
Within Kyrgyzstan
- Bishkek
- Osh
- Manas
- Tamchy (Issyk-Kul Lake)
- Karakol
International
- Tashkent (Uzbekistan)
- Moscow (Russia)
- Delhi (India)
Official Website
Tez Jet official website
Why TezJet Is Convenient for Touring Central Asia
If you’re visiting two or more Central Asian countries, “how to get from one country to the next” is a key question.
TezJet makes troublesome border crossings much easier and should help you make the most of your Central Asia trip.
Convenient When Combined with Direct Flights on Uzbekistan Airways
From Narita Airport (Tokyo), you can fly direct to Tashkent on Uzbekistan Airways.
From there, the onward trip to Kyrgyzstan is very smooth.
*Direct flights operate about 1–2 times a week and vary by season.
Kyrgyzstan to Uzbekistan in About 1.5 Hours by Plane
From Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) to Tashkent (Uzbekistan), it’s about an hour and a half by plane.
The bus is cheaper, but it takes about 14 hours, so honestly the difference is huge.
Just by not losing a whole day to travel, you can make sure you have plenty of time for exploring towns and enjoying nature.
Uzbekistan for Culture, Kyrgyzstan for Nature
Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan are both Central Asian countries with traces of the old Silk Road culture, but each has completely different features, and both are fascinating.
In Uzbekistan, you can explore
• Samarkand
• Bukhara
• Khiva
and enjoy their historic townscapes and architecture.
In Kyrgyzstan, you’ll find
• mountains
• lakes
• highlands
• horse riding
a completely different world.
The combination of culture (Uzbekistan) and nature (Kyrgyzstan) is well balanced, making it an easy route to discover that “Central Asia is fascinating.”
I Actually Flew It | Boarding at Manas Airport
In short, my impression was that TezJet is “totally fine.” This time I boarded at Manas International Airport in Bishkek.
Tickets Are Cheap in the Winter Off-Season!
This time I had a Kyrgyz ticket agency book it for me, but you can also buy tickets on the official website.
I went in December, in winter, and the price was only $110 round trip! Around April or October, the best seasons, it’s a bit more expensive.
Boarding by Bus, Then Straight onto the Plane
After check-in, a bus takes you from the terminal to the aircraft.
You then board by climbing the stairs.
Compact, but the Seats Are Comfortable
The aircraft is on the small side and quite compact.
However, the seats weren’t as cramped as I’d imagined.
• Short-haul flight
• About 1.5 hours
With that in mind, the tight space is hardly noticeable.
Watch Your Carry-On! The Overhead Bins Are Small
The overhead bins are small. The ones at the front and back were roomier, but in the middle a backpack only just fit, so much so that a passenger who brought a carry-on-size suitcase was surprised and struggling…
Even if your bag is within the carry-on allowance, it’s safer to check larger bags before boarding.
Drink Service Available
There’s a simple drink service with water, orange juice and so on.
A small but welcome touch.
To Cross Borders Quickly, Flying Is the Smooth Option
Traveling between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan takes half a day by bus, but only about 1.5 hours by plane.
Not losing time to travel, and having that much more time for exploring towns and nature, is a big advantage.
TezJet uses small aircraft, but they’re perfectly adequate for short flights. In the off-season the prices are reasonable too, and I found it an easy-to-use airline option for touring Central Asia.
ASHU TRAVEL Also Offers Trips to Uzbekistan
At ASHU TRAVEL, we’re also happy to help you plan a combined Kyrgyzstan + Uzbekistan tour.
Until now we’ve mainly offered private tours based on custom requests, but we’re currently preparing to publish them as regular tours.
Uzbekistan for culture, Kyrgyzstan for nature.
If you’d like to enjoy both at a comfortable pace, please keep an eye out for our upcoming updates.
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