The deal lifts Uzbekistan Airways’ Boeing 787 order book to 22 aircraft, supporting the carrier’s plan to expand international connectivity from Central Asia.
Boeing and Uzbekistan Airways have converted options into a firm order for eight 787 Dreamliners, taking the Uzbek flag carrier’s total order book for the widebody aircraft to 22. The additional aircraft are 787-9s, which Uzbekistan Airways plans to use as it expands its international network. The transaction extends a fleet relationship centred on Boeing’s long-haul aircraft and gives the airline further capacity for its stated growth strategy.
The order follows Uzbekistan Airways’ earlier plan to acquire up to 22 Dreamliners, comprising 14 firm 787-9 aircraft and options for eight more. The airline is described as Central Asia’s first 787 operator and currently uses 787-8 aircraft to connect markets in Europe, Asia and the United States, including a direct service to New York City. The expanded commitment therefore builds on an existing widebody platform rather than introducing a new aircraft type.
Boeing says the 787-9’s increased capacity and extended range will enable Uzbekistan Airways to expand routes to the United States and other long-haul destinations. The manufacturer also attributes fuel-use reductions of 25 per cent, compared with the aircraft the Dreamliner replaces, to the family’s aerodynamics, composite materials and systems. Those claims position the aircraft as both a network-expansion tool and an operational-efficiency choice, although the companies did not provide delivery timing or financial terms for the eight-aircraft order.
The signing ceremony took place at the C5+1 Summit in Washington, DC, and was witnessed by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov. The wider September agreement also included a memorandum between Boeing and Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Transport to explore opportunities to expand the country’s aviation ecosystem. Together, the arrangements connect the aircraft purchase with a broader effort to develop Uzbekistan’s role in regional aviation.
For Boeing, the transaction reinforces the 787 programme’s role in supporting long-haul growth by established carriers, while Uzbekistan Airways gains additional aircraft aligned with its existing fleet and route ambitions. The airline’s chairman, Shukhrat Khudaikulov, has described the contract as strengthening the carrier’s position as a Central Asian aviation hub and improving global connectivity for passengers. The firming of the options leaves the next phase focused on integrating the aircraft into the carrier’s international expansion plans.
