Uzbekistan Airways (HY, Tashkent International) has placed a firm order for fourteen B787-9s directly from Boeing with a further eight options for the same type. The deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2031.
"The B787 Dreamliner family has proven to be the cornerstone of our long-haul operations. With this new contract, we are further strengthening both our airline's and our nation's position as a leading aviation hub in Central Asia, while providing our passengers with greater global connectivity," chairman Shukhrat Khudaykulov said.
The Uzbek flag carrier currently operates seven B787-8s, including one in a VIP configuration operated for the government, which are 7.5 years old on average. Its widebody fleet also comprises six B767-300ERs, which are 15.5 years old.
The airline said that the newly ordered B787-9s will allow it to "modernise" and grow the widebody fleet, but it did not respond to ch-aviation's request for comment regarding whether they will directly replace the B767s or B787-8s, or rather be used alongside the existing aircraft.
The new aircraft will be used to "expand international routes to the US and other long-haul destinations as demand for international travel continues to rise," Uzbekistan Airways said. The carrier's sole existing route, currently served with the B787-8, is the 6x weekly Tashkent International-New York JFK service.
