Uzbekistan’s national air carrier, Uzbekistan Airways, has signed a major contract with Boeing for the purchase of 22 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, including eight optional units.  Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2031, the airline announced in a press release.

The deal is part of the airline’s long-term fleet modernization program aimed at expanding its long-haul capacity.

“Expanding our wide-body fleet will allow Uzbekistan Airways to increase passenger capacity on key routes, strengthen schedule resilience, and flexibly grow our network — linking Central Asia with North America, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region.  This project supports the Uzbekistan-2030 national development program and our strategic goal of transforming Tashkent into a leading international transit hub,” the company stated.

Uzbekistan Airways has been operating Boeing 787 Dreamliners for over a decade.  The new order, the airline said, “unlocks even greater opportunities for range and passenger capacity.”

Shuhrat Khudayqulov, Chairman of Uzbekistan Airways, stressed that the contract strengthens the airline’s position as Central Asia’s leading carrier:

“This step confirms our ambitions and strategic commitment to sustainable growth while ensuring broader global connectivity for our passengers.”

Brad McMullen, Boeing’s Senior Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing, said the deal will help the airline “reach new markets and showcase Uzbekistan’s rich culture to more travelers worldwide.”

The agreement drew international attention when U.S. President Donald Trump congratulated Uzbek leader Shavkat Mirziyoyev on what he called an “excellent deal,” noting the contract’s value exceeds US$8 billion.

“President Mirziyoyev is a man of his word, and we will continue working together on many other issues,” Trump posted on Truth Social, as quoted by Fergana.

With a network covering more than 95 domestic and international destinations, Uzbekistan Airways is the only Central Asian carrier operating Boeing 787 Dreamliners, enabling it to perform transcontinental flights.