Ukraine International Airlines (PS, Kyiv Boryspil) has accused Uzbekistan of trying to secure a monopoly for Uzbekistan Airways (HY, Tashkent International) on Tashkent International to Kyiv Boryspil flights. Responding to a statement issued by the Uzbek Embassy in Ukraine, UIA said negotiations over requisite traffic slots between the two countries had successfully concluded in September this year, a month before the end of the Summer season. However UIA's requested slots at Tashkent International for the Winter season were rejected by the Uzbeks, a move the Ukrainians labelled "protectionist" and designed only to preserve Uzbekistan Airways' monopoly on the route. "By opening new flights to Tashkent, UIA may take a significant share of passenger traffic from direct flights of Uzbek airline through organization of connections to new flights at Borispol with other areas of its network," the Central Asian Aero News agency wrote.