JOHOR BARU, MALAYSIA: AirAsia will begin flights to the Uzbek capital of Tashkent by the end of next year, said chief executive officer Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes.

He said the budget airline felt that Central Asia and Eastern Europe were huge potential markets and his company had already conducted initial studies in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

"We can do Uzbekistan next year. With the huge Asian network, many people from South-East Asia would want to go to Uzbekistan," he said.

He said the leg would open up new lines of tourism and business.

He pointed out that the historic city of Samarkand was world famous and attracted tourists.

Fernandes said AirAsia had always been about opening up new areas and markets and felt proud that the company was recognised as providing a service to the country.

He said AirAsia would probably start with three to four flights a week.

When asked about the rates, Fernandes said that it was still too early to decide but would probably around RM800 to RM900.

On Monday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is on an official visit to Uzbekistan, said he had asked Fernandes to consider flying to Tashkent.