:: Press-service of Uzbekistan’s president

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Uzbekistan is on track to become the Central Asian nation with the largest civil aircraft fleet by the end of 2026, overtaking regional leader Kazakhstan.

This year, the number of aircraft operated by Uzbek airlines “will be brought to 120 units,” Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced in his annual year-end address to the parliament in December. According to the president, the country’s carriers operated a combined fleet of 105 aircraft in 2025 and are scheduled to receive 15 more in 2026.

Meanwhile, neighboring Kazakhstan’s fleet expansion plans are more modest. The Kazakh government press service, citing Saltanat Tompieva, Chairperson of the Civil Aviation Committee, reported that national airlines plan to acquire nine new aircraft by the end of 2026. This would increase the country’s total fleet to approximately 118 units, keeping it just behind Uzbekistan’s projected total.

Uzbekistan’s projected growth is fueled by fleet expansion plans across multiple carriers, as per their earlier announcements:

✅ Uzbekistan Airways: The state-owned flag carrier plans to take delivery of four new Airbus A321neo aircraft through Asian lessors. https://t.me/centralasiaplusaero/2048

✅ Centrum Air: The fast-growing private airline will continue to add both A320-family narrowbody and A330 widebody aircraft. https://t.me/centralasiaplusaero/2427

✅ Qanot Sharq: Another private carrier, Qanot Sharq, is set to expand its fleet with the ultra-long-range A321XLRs and is also exploring the addition of Airbus widebodies. https://t.me/centralasiaplusaero/2459

✅ FlyOne Asia: The startup low-cost carrier, formerly known as Asia Union Airlines, has significant expansion plans centered on the A320 family.

✅ Air Samarkand: Currently undergoing restructuring, the airline may resume aircraft acquisitions starting in time for the peak season.

In the cargo sector, all four private Uzbek freight operators—My Freighter, Fly Khiva, SpaceBee, and SkyGuard—are also expecting aircraft deliveries.

According to Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Transport, the republic’s aircraft fleet has more than tripled since pre-Covid year of 2019, growing from 29 to 105 units. This surge is attributed to the liberalization of the civil aviation market, initiated by the president, and new opportunities that emerged for Central Asian airlines following the start of the Russia-Ukraine military conflict. A national development plan published in late 2025 projects the country’s civil aviation fleet will reach 180 aircraft by 2030.

In Kazakhstan, all local carriers are also expecting new additions to their fleets in 2026:

✅ Air Astana: The market leader anticipates receiving its first two Boeing 787-9 longhaul aircraft in 2026. https://t.me/centralasiaplusaero/2205

✅ SCAT: The private airline plans to continue expanding its fleet with Boeing 737MAX-8 narrowbody aircraft, with two expected to arrive in 2026.

✅ Vietjet Qazaqstan: Formerly Qazaq Air and recently acquired by a Vietnamese investor, is scheduled to receive the first two of 20 Boeing 737MAX-8s in 2026. https://t.me/centralasiaplusaero/2411.

✅ Alpha Sky: Currently, the sole cargo airline in Kazakhstan has announced its intention to acquire Boeing 747 and 777 freighters.

✅ KTZ Air Cargo: In a new development, state railway operator Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) registered a subsidiary cargo airline, KTZ Air Cargo, in December 2025. The new carrier plans to begin operations in 2026 using three Boeing 767 or 777 freighter aircraft.