Uzbekistan Airways plans to at least double its aircraft fleet by 2030, with major deliveries and expansion measures already underway.

Speaking at a press conference on January 28, airline chairman Shukhrat Khudaykulov said the carrier currently operates 47 aircraft and expects to receive four additional leased planes this year, The Caspian Post reports, citing Uzbek media.

The expansion is backed by firm contracts with Airbus for 14 aircraft and Boeing for 22 aircraft. Airbus deliveries will be spread over three years, with four aircraft due in 2028, six in 2029, and four in 2030. Deliveries of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners are scheduled to begin at the end of 2030 and will be financed through credit arrangements.

Khudaykulov said fleet growth will start immediately, with the leased aircraft arriving this year marking only the first stage. He added that strong market demand underpins the airline’s expansion plans and that, taking all factors into account, the fleet will at least double by 2030.

The strategy builds on earlier agreements, including a 2022 Airbus contract for 12 aircraft-eight A320neo and four A321neo-worth €694.3 million, as well as two H145 helicopters valued at €21 million. In addition, five ATR-72 aircraft were acquired for the regional carrier Silk Avia.

The expansion is supported by the Uzbek government as part of a broader civil aviation development plan. In October 2025, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev approved a decree setting key targets for 2030, including increasing the combined fleet of domestic airlines to 180 aircraft, expanding annual domestic and international flights to 200,000, and raising passenger traffic to 24 million per year.