Uzbekistan Airways

Fleet Modernisation and Initial Expansion (2016-2020)

Uzbekistan Airways began an expansion of its operations in the mid-2010s following the election in 2016 of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who saw development of the aviation sector as a priority for the country. This involved the help of the World Bank, who agreed to help modernise and liberalise the Uzbek market.[6] Signs of this modernisation included the development of Uzbekistan Airways’ fleet from old Soviet aircraft to newer Western variants from Boeing and Airbus. In August 2016 just before Mirziyoyev’s election, the airline took delivery of its first Boeing 787-8, which was initially deployed on the carrier’s flagship route to New York-JFK. [7] In 2017 the airline carried 2.7 million passengers, a number almost 10% higher than the year before. [6] This growth continued in 2018 as 3.1 million passengers flew with the airline, with 1.9 million of these being international passengers. [8] [9] Expansion was aided by the opening of several routes to previously unserved cities, with the airline listing Jeddah, Mumbai and Vladivostok as new destinations in a 2018 press release. [10]

In May 2018 the airline's modernisation progressed as it transitioned to an all-jet fleet, following the retirement of its 52-seat Ilyushin Il-114 turboprops. [11] As part of this process the airline received its first Airbus A320neo in March 2019. This was the first of an order for 2 from the European manufacturer but was later supplemented by an order for 8 additional A320neos, as well as 4 of the larger A321neos. [12] [13]2019 also saw the addition of more new international destinations thanks to these deliveries, with flights to Tbilisi, Munich and Karachi being launched. [14]

Continued Growth and Profitability (2021-)

Following the COVID-19 pandemic Uzbekistan Airways relaunched operations on domestic rotations at the end of March 2021 followed by linking Tashkent to Moscow a couple of weeks later, initially once weekly. [15] [16] [17] In June 2021 the airline transferred its Moscow operations from Vnukovo Airport to Domodedovo Airport, with the flight from Tashkent being flown 4-times weekly. [18]

In February 2022 the airline received its first A321LR from Airbus. According to the then chairman Ilhom Mahkamov the aircraft will fly to a mix of international cities in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, as well as complimenting the existing A320neo fleet on domestic services. [19]

Uzbekistan Airways ended 2024 in good financial shape having carried over 6 million passengers according to its annual report, an increase of 20% on the year before, with a load factor of 83%. The airline also saw an increase in its yearly profit with an increase of almost 70% to UZS687 billion soums, or approximately $56 million US dollars. [20] This strong financial performance was aided by the launch of 11 new routes including Nha Trang and Phi Quoc in Vietnam as the airline continued to expand internationally with the arrival of its new A321LRs. [21] [22] [23]

In late 2025 the airline made two major announcements regarding expansion of its fleet. The first was an order for 14 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, which was later increased to 22 in November following the conversion of 8 options the airline held. [24][25] News of the second order came shortly after, with the airline announcing that 4 more Airbus A321neo aircraft would be joining the fleet in partnership with China Aircraft Leasing Group (CALC), bringing the total commitment to the type up to 6. These aircraft will be configured in a two-class configuration featuring 16 seats in business class and 156 in economy, with expected delivery between 2027 and 2028. [26] [27]

The start of 2026 brought more good news for the Uzbek flag carrier as it revealed a profit for the previous year of over $100million US dollars, as well as record passenger numbers of 6.6 million, over double the amount compared to 2018 [28] Nonetheless the airline does face challenges, as its rapid growth has been hampered by a shortage of new aircraft. Chairman Shukhrat Khudaykulov commented that whilst the airline operated more than 52,000 flights throughout the year, an increase of 8% compared to 2024, this 8% growth is “Modest” and that there still remains “…significant unmet demand”. [29]

Despite facing delays in deliveries of new aircraft Uzbekistan Airways has pushed ahead with regional expansion in cities outside the capital such as Andijan in the east of the country with new links to its Tashkent hub, Saint Petersburg and Moscow in Russia, as well as the Turkish capital Istanbul. The airline had stopped services from the airport in March 2023, but after a hiatus of 2 and a half years will now operate 10 flights a week operated with A320neos. [30] [31] The nearby city of Namangan also saw growth with new connections to Krasnodar in Russia as well as New Delhi, the city’s first Indian route. [32] [33] Tashkent has also seen regional expansion, with a new twice-weekly route to the Kazakh city of Atyrau starting from March 2026. [34] March also sees the launch of flight to a pair of new cities in China with the new A321LRs serving Hangzhou, and Shenzhen being linked to Tashkent with the 787-8. [35] The airline expects to receive 4 additional aircraft in 2026 to support this expansion, bringing its total number above 50 for the first time. The chairman anticipates that the fleet will double in size by 2030, stating “We already see strong market demand and intend to expand further”. [36]

Codeshare agreements

Uzbekistan Airways has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:[38][39]

• airBaltic
• Asiana Airlines[40]
• Azerbaijan Airlines[41][42]
• Belavia
• Korean Air
• Malaysia Airlines[43]
• S7 Airlines[44]
• Turkish Airlines
• Ural Airlines

Interline agreements

Uzbekistan Airways has interline agreements with the following airlines:[38]

• AccesRail (Railway)
• Aeroflot
• Air Astana
• airBaltic
• Air Europa
• Air France
• All Nippon Airways
• APG Airlines
• Arkia
• Asiana Airlines
• Azerbaijan Airlines
• Bangkok Airways
• Belavia
• China Southern Airlines
• Czech Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• Etihad Airways
• Flynas
• Garuda Indonesia
• Hahn Air[45]
• Iberia
• Japan Airlines
• Kam Air[46]
• KLM
• Korean Air
• Lufthansa
• Malaysia Airlines
• Qantas
• Qatar Airways
• S7 Airlines
• Singapore Airlines
• SriLankan Airlines
• Thai Airways International
• Turkish Airlines
• Ukraine International Airlines
• Ural Airlines

Current fleet

As of November 2025, the airline operates the following aircraft:[47]

Additionally, the airline operates two Airbus A320s in VIP configuration and one Pilatus PC-24.[47]

Fleet development

In mid 2007, the carrier ordered six Airbus A320s; by that time the fleet was 55 strong, comprising ten different aircraft models; the Russian-built Yakovlev Yak-40 was among them. Also that year, the airline ordered two Boeing 787-8s.

In late 2008, the company ordered four Boeing 767-300ERs in a US$597 million deal, and the A320 order was boosted to ten aircraft. The airline took delivery of its first A320 in July 2010; the type started operations servicing the Tashkent–Baku route. The first of four Boeing 767-300ERs ordered in 2008 was delivered in February 2012, coinciding with the carrier's 20th anniversary. Also in 2012, the airline retired the An-24 from active service.[58] It was announced in May 2013 that the Islamic Development Bank signed a deal for US$270 million with the Government of Uzbekistan that will be partly (US$170 million) used to finance the acquisition of two Boeing aircraft, yet the type involved was not disclosed.[59] In July 2013, the Airbus A310 was retired from active service.[60]

The carrier ordered the Boeing 767-300ER for the first time in 1995. It decided to convert two of the oldest Boeing 767-300ERs into freighters subsequently. Conversion of the first aircraft was completed in December 2014. In late December 2014, the second converted aircraft arrived in Tashkent.

Uzbekistan Airways received its first Boeing 787-8 in late August 2016. The Business Class on the 787 features the first fully flat seats of the carrier.[61]

In 2023, the carrier ordered two Let 410UVPs with an option for further two of these aircraft; the first of them was delivered in June 2023. The airline operated with Airbus A330 aircraft in 2023 under wet-lease from Qanot Sharq.[62]

Retired fleet

Uzbekistan Airways previously operated the following aircraft:

• Airbus A300-600F[63]
• Airbus A310-300[60]
• Antonov An-24B
• Antonov An-24RV
• Avro RJ85
• Boeing 757-200
• Ilyushin Il-62
• Ilyushin Il-62M
• Ilyushin Il-76T
• Ilyushin Il-86
• Ilyushin Il-114-100
• Tupolev Tu-154B
• Tupolev Tu-154M
• Yakovlev Yak-40