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Armenia’s Shirak Avia adds Boeing 737NG 🇦🇲 Armenia-based carrier Shirak Avia (IATA code: 5G) has added a Boeing 737-800 to its fleet, on lease from CSDS Aircraft Sales and Leasing. The 2006-vintage ex-Blue Panorama aircraft is the youngest and the most capacious (189 seats) in the privately-run carrier's fleet, which until recently consisted of two B737-500 classics, 30-year and 26 years old, seating 131 and 113 passengers respectively. The arrived aircraft (MSN 35210, registered EK-SHD), is powered by CFM56-7B engines. Shirak Avia began commercial operations in 2022 and specializes in flights between Armenia and Russia. The -800 is already on the schedule on Shirak’s most popular routes: Yerevan-Moscow (Vnukovo) and Yerevan-Moscow (Sheremetyevo). In the winter navigation season, apart from Moscow, Shirak operates flights from the Armenian capital to Nizhny Novgorod, Perm, Saratov and Ufa. Subscribe to @CentralAsiaPlusAero

Uzbekistan Airways to Launch Flights to Madrid 🇺🇿 Uzbeki largest airline, the state-owned Uzbekistan Airways, will add another European destination to its network — Spain. Starting in the summer of 2025, flag carrier will launch flights from Tashkent to Madrid, as announced by Summerwind, which has been selected as the airline’s representative in Spain. “This strategic partnership will allow us to promote Uzbekistan as an attractive destination for Spanish travelers,” said Summerwind CEO Elena Lledo Gomez. A weekly non-stop flight between Madrid and Tashkent will operate every Monday using Boeing 787 widebody aircraft configured with 24 business-class seats and 222 economy-class seats. Currently, Uzbek-based airlines do not serve Spain. However, during the summer of this year, Spanish carrier World2Fly operated charter flights from Madrid to Tashkent and Urgench. Another Spanish airline, Iberojet, served the same routes from September. In this season, Uzbekistan Airways’ European destinations are limited to the United Kingdom (London), Germany (Munich and Frankfurt), Italy (Milan and Rome), and Latvia (Riga). Subscribe to @CentralAsiaPlusAero

Saudi LCC Flyadeal authorized to operate regular flights to Uzbekistan 🇺🇿 Saudi Arabia-based budget carrier Flyadeal has received permission to operate regular flights on three routes to Uzbekistan: Jeddah-Tashkent, Medina-Tashkent and Jeddah-Namangan. The permit was issued on November 14 by the Civil Aviation Agency of Uzbekistan. There is no information about possible dates for the start of flights. In May, Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia have reached an agreement to increase the number of regular flights between the countries to 50 flights per week for each side, creating wider opportunity for pilgrims from Uzbekistan going to Hajj and Umrah, and for foreign tourists coming to Uzbekistan for pilgrimage tourism under the Umrah Plus program. Based in Jeddah, Flyadeal is a sister company of Saudia Airlines. The LCC operates a fleet of 34 Airbus A320 aircraft (23 A320neos and 11 A320ceo). Subscribe to @CentralAsiaPlusAero

Tajikistan's Somon Air launches flights to a third country in the Middle East Somon Air is to start regular flights from Dushanbe to Doha. Weekly flights between the capitals of Tajikistan and Qatar will commence on November 28. Organized jointly with local online travel agency Fly.tj, the flights will be operated on Boeing 737-800 and 737-900 aircraft. “This regular flight opens new opportunities in air travel and tourism. Currently there is a visa-free regime between the Republic of Tajikistan and Qatar for citizens of the two countries, and I am sure that Doha will be a real discovery for travel lovers,” said Abdulkosim Valiev, CEO of Somon Air. Qatar has become the third Middle Eastern country for the Central Asian republic's flag carrier. Somon already flies to Dubai, UAE and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The airline currently flies from Tajikistan to China, Germany, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan, UAE, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Uzbekistan. It operates six aircraft: four Boeing 737-800s and two 737-900s. In 2023, Somon carried more than 787,000 passengers, a 17% increase over pre-pandemic year 2019. Subscribe to @CentralAsiaPlusAero

We are excited to announce that My Freighter, a leading cargo airline in Uzbekistan, will be participating as a partner in the Central Asia Air Cargo Summit 2024 on November 27 in Tashkent. With their recent expansion to a fleet of five Boeing 767-300 freighters, My Freighter is significantly enhancing cargo connectivity across Central Asia, Europe, and North America. Their involvement in the summit underscores the growing importance of Central Asia as a pivotal hub in global air cargo logistics. Join us at the Central Asia Air Cargo Summit!

Azerbaijan’s Silk Way Group to develop new cargo airport near Baku 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan-based Silk Way Group officially unveiled plans to develop a new cargo airport in the Alat Free Economic Zone. The new gateway will be located near Baku International Sea Trade Port, about 80 km south from the country’s capital, the company said on November 12. Designed as an advanced logistics hub, the new ICAO Cat III airport will include 18 aircraft stands, a 4,000-meter runway and taxiway as well as an air traffic control center, fuel and fire services, and other related amenities. The project includes the construction of individual forwarder warehouses, state-of-the-art perishables airside facilities, and modern office buildings. The construction is expected to be completed in 2026 with a help of the Dutch company TKH Airport Solutions. The president of Silk Way Group Zaur Akhundov emphasized that the new gateway will bolster Azerbaijan’s air transit potential as the country stands within the Middle Corridor, a Trans-Caspian transport route which links China, East Asia and Europe. "The establishment of the new cargo airport in the Alat Free Economic Zone represents a significant milestone in the country’s history, signifying a shift towards new opportunities that will effectively address the increasing local and global demand for freight transport”, he explained. Silk Way Group includes two cargo carriers – Ilyushin Il-76 operator Silk Way Airlines and fast growing Silk Way West which flies Boeing 747 and 777 freighters as well as SW Technics MRO provider. The group currently operates from Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD), located east from Baku. To learn more about the state of affairs and prospects of the booming air freight market in Central Asia/Caspian/Caucasus region, join the Central Asia Air Cargo Summit to be held on November 27 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Don’t Miss Out – Register Now! Subscribe to @CentralAsiaPlusAero

The UAE investor extends trust management of Astana airport 🇰🇿 The UAE-based company Terminals Astana Airport Management has extended its trust management rights over 100% of the shares of Astana’s Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport for another two months, until January 7, 2025, the local media outlet Kursiv reported, citing Kazakhstan's Ministry of Finance. The capital airport is the second largest gateway in Kazakhstan after Almaty. The UAE investor was initially granted management of Astana Airport (IATA code: NQZ) by the Kazakh government on November 7, 2023, for a period of one year. The Ministry of Finance declined to disclose details of the deal, citing confidentiality. During the first year of management, the investors carried out runway repairs (not overhaul) at the airport. Their responsibilities also included developing a long-term business plan for the airport's growth, balancing state and private interests, to serve as a foundation for future investments. The owner of Terminals Astana Airport Management, Terminals Holding, is also involved in reconstructing Navoi Airport in Uzbekistan, as well as Bosaso and Berbera gateways in Somalia. Subscribe to @CentralAsiaPlusAero

Georgia’s Geosky takes first Boeing 767 Freighter, another one coming soon 🇬🇪 Geosky Airlines (D4) took delivery of its first Boeing 767-300ER(BCF) cargo aircraft, with another one of type expected before year-end. The move, a Georgia’s leading air freighter operator calls ‘strategic’, is expected to enhance privately-run Geosky’s capability to “further develop and support cargo flights from Asia to Europe via Georgia”. The 24-years old ex-MIAT Mongolian Airlines aircraft (MSN 30564), powered by PW4062 engines is on dry lease from Northwest Aviation Leasing. Registered locally as 4L-GEL the aircraft arrived in Tbilisi (TBS) on November 2nd, marking a milestone in Geosky’s effort to strengthen its operational capacity. This decision aims to improve logistical efficiency and provide reliable and fast service to customers in the international market, the airline said. "This aircraft provides us with better opportunities to leverage Georgia’s strategic location and offer enhanced services to our partners from Asia to Europe. <…> We are confident that expansion of the airline’s fleet will bring more opportunities and strengthen our role in the global logistics landscape," Shalva Kiknadze, president of Geosky, stated. Another local freight specialist, Georgian Airlines, also has a couple of 767-300Fs in its fleet, and flies them to China. Founded in 2017 as a dedicated cargo airline, Geosky expended into passenger business in 2023 by launching Georgian Wings brand. Geosky operates two Boeing 747-200BSFs, one Boeing 757-200PCF and a Boeing 767-300 BCF. Georgian Wings’ fleet comprises two Boeing 737-300 passenger aircraft. To learn more about the state of affairs and prospects of the booming air freight market in Central Asia/Caspian/Caucasus region, join the Central Asia Air Cargo Summit to be held on November 27 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Don’t Miss Out – Register Now! Subscribe to @CentralAsiaPlusAero

Kyrgyzstan suspends registration of new airlines on safety and reputation concerns 🇰🇬 President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, by his November 4 decree, banned registering new airlines in the country and issuing them air operator’s certificates. He also directed the State Civil Aviation Agency (SCAA) to inspect local airlines that operate exclusively outside Kyrgyzstan and possess aircraft that have been absent from the country for over a month. Carriers that don’t meet the established requirements will have their AOCs revoked. "Our main task is to establish strict control over airlines operating abroad and ensure that each of their flights fully complies with state and international community requirements," Japarov noted. This decision follows efforts by the authorities to remove Kyrgyzstan’s civil aviation from the European Union's "blacklist." It also comes two weeks after once Kyrgyz-registered Il-76TD transport aircraft was shot down over Sudan on October 21. Documents from "Manas International Airport," which manages Kyrgyzstan's airports, were found in the aircraft’s wreckage. Kyrgyz aviation authorities later clarified that the downed Il-76 was removed from the national civil aircraft registry (it used to have tail number EX-76011) on January 12, 2024, and re-registered in Sudan. Currently, there are five passenger and twelve cargo airlines (more than in any other Central Asian country) registered in Kyrgyzstan. In October, SCAA announced that it was preparing to issue an operating certificate to another carrier, Blue Jet Airways KG. This airline was established with the assistance of Turkish-based company 3C International and planned to begin cargo operations with a Boeing 727, already registered locally as EX-27015. Subscribe to @CentralAsiaPlusAero

Central Asian airports integrating into global community 🇺🇿🇰🇬 The air transport industry of Central Asian countries continues to actively move towards the development of international relations. The airport management companies of two republics - Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan - have recently became members of the Airports Council International Europe (ACI Europe). Uzbekistan Airports, which manages Uzbeki airports, has resumed cooperation with ACI, which was interrupted during the pandemic, by rejoining the influential organization. The state-owned company operates 11 airports in Uzbekistan: Tashkent, Samarkand (jointly managed), Bukhara, Navoi, Andijan, Namangan, Fergana, Nukus, Urgench, Termez and Karshi. Also joining ACI Europe is the Kyrgyzstan-based state-owned company MAM, which handles 11 airports in Kyrgyzstan: 5 international (Manas (Bishkek), Osh, Issyk-Kul, Karakol and Batken) and 6 regional (Jalal-Abad, Isfana, Karavan, Kazarman, Naryn and Talas). ACI Europe represents over 500 airports in 55 countries with its members facilitating over 90% of commercial air traffic in Europe. Thanks to the partnership with ACI, airports in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan will be able to become active participants in the global airport community, share best practices and experience with leading industry players. Image: Uzbekistan Airports Subscribe to @CentralAsiaPlusAero