TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, November 6. Uzbekistan’s Air Samarkand airline is in talks with the French Airbus aircraft manufacturer about the purchase of passenger aircraft, Director of Air Samarkand Anton Khojayan said, Trend reports.
According to a company official, Air Samarkand intends to expand its fleet to 15 aircraft by the end of 2024.
"To date, the airline with a base airport in Samarkand has received only one older Airbus A330-300 aircraft." "By the end of this year, four more A321 and A320 aircraft are expected to be available to the company on leasing terms," Khojayan said.
The company's CEO stated that for the time being, the carrier will fly charter flights to Turkey, and that once an operational authorization is obtained, flights to Southeast Asia, China, South Korea, and EU countries will begin.
Air Samarkand began operations earlier this month after receiving the first Airbus A330-300 aircraft at Samarkand International Airport.
Uzbekistan Airports JSC, which oversees all airports in Uzbekistan, and IP LLC Air Marakanda signed an agreement in September 2021 to modernize Samarkand Airport.
The project, worth more than $80 million, provides for the comprehensive development of the airport, the construction of airport infrastructure, as well as its operation.