Uzbekistan Air Cargo Notes | 19 March 2026
- 13 hours ago
- 2 min read
Welcome to this week's edition of Uzbekistan Air Cargo Notes, the first and only newsletter focusing on the latest news and insights into the dynamic air cargo market of Uzbekistan and Central Asia. This week, we are reporting on the first food charter cargo flight between Uzbekistan and Pakistan, planned relocation of Tashkent's freight rail stations and more.
Air Cargo Trends
Uzbekistan and Pakistan inaugurated food cargo route
Pakistani carrier Air Eagle completed the first charter flight from Lahore, Pakistan to Tashkent, Uzbekistan delivering an initial shipment of 17 tons of meat using Boeing 737 freighter
The new food logistics project follows expanding bilateral agreements and paves the way for increased cargo traffic, including upcoming Tashkent-Karachi flights by private Uzbek airline My Freighter
Engine woes drag down Air Astana profits
The Kazakh carrier reported a sharp decline in its 2025 annual net profit to $13.6 million, driven by rising costs and the grounding of 13 A320-family aircraft during the peak season due to Pratt & Whitney GTF engine defects
To mitigate capacity losses, the airline performed 115 unscheduled engine swaps last year and expects repair volumes in the first half of 2026 to equal the entirety of 2025, while average engine turnaround times remain at 18 months
Uzbekistan Airways is set to launch flights to Russia
Uzbekistan Airways will launch direct regular passenger flights ex Bukhara, Uzbekistan to Novosibirsk, Russia VV on 3 April 2026
All flights will be operated weekly using Airbus A320neo aircraft
Kyrgyzstan signs deal for Airbus passenger jets
State-owned operator Airports of Kyrgyzstan reached an agreement with the European manufacturer to acquire two A321 aircraft for its subsidiary, Asman Airlines
The purchase is part of a broader fleet expansion strategy, with plans to acquire a total of ten A321s by the end of the decade to supplement the carrier's current regional turboprop operations
Red Wings is set to launch flights to Uzbekistan
Russia's Red Wings will launch direct regular passenger flights ex Yekaterinburg, Russia to Urgench, Uzbekistan VV on 14 April 2026
All flights will be operated weekly using Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft
Other News
Tashkent freight rail stations to relocate near new airport
The President of Uzbekistan has instructed the Ministry of Transport and Uzbekistan Railways to develop proposals for moving cargo railway hubs out of the capital to the Tashkent region
The facilities are planned to be situated near the new Tashkent airport currently under construction, with a deadline to submit the relocation proposals set for May 2026
DP World plans major multimodal terminal in Tashkent
UAE-based logistics company presented a proposal to build a new cargo terminal in the capital's Yangi Avlod industrial zone, with the project valued at $288 million
DPW Tashkent facility is projected to handle up to 150,000 TEU annually and feature 63,000 square meters of Class A warehouse space, though the construction timeline has not yet been announced
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