MRO Central Asia 2026 Confirms Uzbekistan as Aviation Hub

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The MRO Central Asia: Uzbekistan Exhibition & Conference 2026, held on March 25–26 in Tashkent, demonstrated substantial growth and reaffirmed its status as the leading platform for aircraft maintenance and repair (MRO) services in Central Asia.

The fifth edition of the event brought together over 600 industry professionals and more than 50 exhibiting companies from over 15 countries, covering the full spectrum of aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul services. The exhibition united leading international and regional MRO service providers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), parts distributors, and specialized equipment manufacturers, presenting solutions tailored to airlines operating in rapidly growing and emerging markets.

Participants hailed from Australia, China, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Uzbekistan, highlighting growing global interest in Central Asia as a developing aviation hub.

From Technical Tasks to Strategic Role

The two-day business program focused on the evolving role of MRO, moving beyond technical functions toward becoming a strategic element of airline operations. In addition to engineering issues, sessions addressed regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and commercial sustainability.

Farhod Ibragimov, Director of Uzbekistan Airways Technics LLC, delivered a keynote outlining the future of the industry in the region. He emphasized Central Asia’s potential to develop a competitive MRO hub through infrastructure investment, workforce development, and adoption of international standards. A representative from the Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan highlighted the need to adapt regulatory frameworks to rapid aviation market growth and rising safety requirements. Market analyses and trend reports from IATA and CentralAsia+ Aero underscored regional aviation dynamics and MRO development prospects.

Key Industry Themes

Sessions addressed regulatory compliance and safety oversight, maintenance planning and interval optimization, predictive technologies using IoT and AI, MRO digitalization, use of components with remaining service life (USM), and workforce preparation for the region’s expanding fleet. Experts noted the industry’s shift toward data-driven models focused on cost reduction and improved aircraft availability.

International Participation and Partnerships

The conference featured representatives from airlines, MRO organizations, regulators, and consulting firms, including Airbus, Lufthansa Consulting, Turkish Technic, and other international companies. Uzbekistan Airways Technics LLC was highlighted as a key local player strengthening links between Central Asia and global aviation service markets.

Industry Outlook

The next major industry event, the AeroEngines Central Asia conference, will be held on April 16 in Astana, focusing on aircraft engine maintenance, cost and risk management, and supply chain resilience.

MRO Central Asia 2026 confirmed Uzbekistan’s growing role as a regional aviation center and a platform for expanding international collaboration in aircraft maintenance and repair.