Uzbekistan Airways to Receive 22 Modern Boeing 787-9 Aircraft Over Four Years

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan Airways has disclosed details of the largest deal in its history, involving the delivery of 22 wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.

According to the airline’s chief executive, Shukhrat Khudaykulov, deliveries will be carried out in batches of three to four aircraft per year, with the entire program expected to be completed within three to four years.

Khudaykulov explained that the contract parameters were shaped gradually. Initial discussions focused on the delivery of eight aircraft, followed by the agreement on an additional batch of eight during a subsequent visit to the United States. After final alignment on technical specifications and maintenance conditions, the contract was expanded to include a total of 22 aircraft.

The signing of the agreement was first announced in September last year. US President Donald Trump stated at the time that the value of the contract exceeds US$8 billion. Uzbekistan Airways, however, has not disclosed the exact amount, limiting its comments to assurances of the company’s financial stability. Khudaykulov stressed that the airline is fully solvent.

Renewal of the long-haul fleet, he noted, has become essential amid the expansion of the airline’s international route network. “I believe fleet renewal was critically necessary, given our geography and engagement with various markets. Our current aircraft continue to operate, but in the early 2030s we plan to accelerate fleet modernization,” the airline’s head said.

Special emphasis is being placed on personnel training. A full-scale Boeing 787 flight simulator will be installed at the Uzbekistan Airways training center, becoming the first of its kind in the country. “We currently operate simulators for the A320 and Boeing 767, but not for the 787. We deliberately included this requirement in the contract in order to establish such a center here in Uzbekistan. To my knowledge, there are no similar centers in the post-Soviet space — the nearest one is located in Türkiye,” Khudaykulov said.

He emphasized that the introduction of the simulator will make it possible to train pilots domestically, model both standard and emergency scenarios, and significantly enhance overall flight safety.

The new contract and related infrastructure initiatives, he added, represent key steps in modernizing the long-haul fleet and strengthening Uzbekistan Airways’ position in the international aviation market.