Uzbekistan's Silk Avia to focus on domestic connectivity

Uzbekistan's Silk Avia to add ATR42s, boost ATR72 fleet

Uzbekistan's Silk Avia to lease two more ATR72s

Silk Avia (USA, Samarkand) has agreed to lease two ATR72-600s from Nordic Aviation Capital. The commitment was announced during the ongoing 2023 Paris Air Show, however no further details were disclosed.

Backed by the state-owned Uzbekistan Airport Company (UAC), Silk Avia has been operational since early this year, running flights to various secondary Uzbek towns and cities using a fleet of three ATR72-600s. Two of the ATR - Avions de Transport Régional turboprops are leased from UAC while the third is sourced from Jetcraft Aviation.

Last year, it announced plans to grow its fleet with the acquisition of five more ATR72-600s, three of which would come from ATR itself while the other two would come via a lessor.

Uzbekistan Airways orders 2+2 Let 410UVP-E20s

Uzbekistan Airways (HY, Tashkent International) has ordered up to four Let 410UVP-E20s from Let Kunovice (Uherske Hradiste) for use in developing the state-owned carrier's domestic network and to bolster tourism. The first firm-ordered aircraft is planned for July while a second is due by the end of this year.

A statement said only that the 19-seater turboprops would be deployed to towns such as Zarafshan, Shahrisabz, and Andizhan as well as others with short runways of less than 510 metres.

Uzbekistan Airways is currently an all jet outfit having last used turboprops - its now infamous fleet of derelict Il-114-100s - during the last decade. Domestically, it offers regular flights from Tashkent to Bukhara, Fergana, Karshi, Namangan, Nukus, Samarkand, Termez, and Urgench, the ch-aviation schedules module shows.

Silk Avia (USA, Samarkand) is set to step into the domestic market with three ATR72-600s to be used to develop thinner local routes.

Uzbekistan's Silk Avia certifies, to launch in early 2Q23