The first A330-200 was acquired on April 21, with the second scheduled for May 3. The initial aircraft will serve routes connecting Tashkent to Istanbul, Dubai, and Jeddah.
The first aircraft, designated LY-TKL, is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines and was initially delivered to Aeroflot in 2009. The jet has a configuration of 18 business-class and 248 economy-class seats. On its inaugural flight to Istanbul on April 23, the aircraft carried 237 passengers.
The decision to lease the two A330s supports Uzbekistan Airways' ambitious plans to expand its fleet and route network. The airline has also recently agreed to purchase 12 additional single-aisle Airbus aircraft, consisting of four A321neos and eight A320neos, as part of its modernization efforts.
Uzbekistan Airways has been progressively reinstating its network, offering services to destinations such as Paris, Milan, Beijing, Tokyo, and Jakarta. The airline plans to launch flights to Bangkok in June.
