Uzbek president agrees to buy Airbus jets during state visit

A spokesperson for the Uzbek government says the country's president, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, agreed to buy fourteen Airbus aircraft and lease five more during a state visit to France in March. Sherzod Asadov also said negotiations are underway with Boeing to buy 12 of its aircraft.

Mirziyoyev announced his intention to refresh the fleet at state-owned Uzbekistan Airways (HY, Tashkent International) during an April 9, 2025, government meeting, according to The Tashkent Times. However, it is unclear whether his comments referred to an earlier plan to sign a memorandum of understanding with Boeing for fourteen incremental B787-8s and an even earlier deal with Airbus to buy eight A320-200Ns and four A321-200Ns, or were additional to them.

Uzbekistan Airways' current fleet includes 45 aircraft, including nine A320-200s, ten A320-200Ns, five A321-200NX(LR)s, two wet-leased A330-200s, two ACJ320-200s, five B767-300ERs, two B767-300ER(BCF)s, seven B787-8s, two Il-76TDs, and one Pilatus PC-24. The majority of the aircraft are owned, although the ch-aviation Commercial Aviation Aircraft Data module shows Uzbekistan Airways leases the A320neo and A321neo jets. The latest Airbus delivery data shows that the manufacturer has yet to deliver nine narrowbodies to the airline.

Meanwhile, Uzbekistan Airways appears to have back-pedalled on plans to sell aircraft formerly in long-term storage and will reactivate one of its parked B767UK67007 (msn 33469) went out of service in May 2020. In January 2023, ch-aviation reported on a call by the airline for expressions of interest to acquire two of its B757-200s and two B767-300ERs, UK67007 and UK67008 (msn 33078), that were surplus to requirements.

However, this week, Uzbekistan Airways unveiled a refurbished UK67007. "Uzbekistan Airways' fleet is being replenished with an updated B767 widebody aircraft with registration number UK67007," read May 7 posts on its social media platforms. "The aircraft has undergone extensive technical training after long-term storage and will begin operating flights very soon."