Double-Landlocked Airlines: Flying from the Center of the Center

There are only two double-landlocked countries in the world:

• Liechtenstein
• Uzbekistan

A double-landlocked country is surrounded only by landlocked countries. In other words: to reach the sea, you must cross at least two borders.

From an aviation perspective, that creates a fascinating paradox. No coastline. No port cities. No maritime gateways. Yet aircraft still depart daily — connecting these geographic “centers of the center” to the world.

Let’s look at how aviation works when geography gives you no water at all.

Liechtenstein: The Airline That Doesn’t Exist

Liechtenstein has no airport and no national airline.

The entire country is just 160 km² — smaller than many airports. Instead, it relies on nearby Swiss and Austrian airports:

• Zurich Airport (ZRH) – the main global gateway
• St. Gallen–Altenrhein Airport (ACH) – a small regional option

Effectively, Swiss carriers like Swiss International Air Lines serve as Liechtenstein’s de facto airline.

Aviation reality:
Liechtenstein is double-landlocked but fully integrated into Switzerland’s aviation system. It is one of the rare sovereign states with no airport and no airline at all.

For someone like you, Maarten — who tracks aircraft types and airport codes — Liechtenstein is a curiosity: a country you “visit” by landing somewhere else.

Uzbekistan: A Double-Landlocked Hub

Unlike Liechtenstein, Uzbekistan has a full aviation ecosystem.

Its flag carrier, Uzbekistan Airways, operates long-haul and regional routes from:

• Tashkent International Airport (TAS)
• Samarkand International Airport (SKD)

Despite being surrounded by:

• Kazakhstan
• Kyrgyzstan
• Tajikistan
• Turkmenistan
• Afghanistan

— none of which have sea access either — Uzbekistan maintains strong global links to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

Historically, it even operated the Il-62 and Il-86 — classic Soviet long-haul machines that connected deep inland Central Asia to Moscow, Delhi, and beyond.

Aviation reality:
Uzbekistan shows that landlocked geography does not limit global connectivity. In fact, Tashkent is positioned as a Silk Road crossroads — now in jet form.

Why Double-Landlocked Aviation Is Fascinating

1. Every route is international – There are no coastal shortcuts.
2. Geopolitics matters more – Overflight rights are critical.
3. Hub strategy becomes essential – Especially in Central Asia.
4. Air cargo replaces sea cargo – High-value goods move by air.

For an aviation-minded traveler like you, it’s interesting that some of the most geographically isolated countries are deeply dependent on global air networks.