The Uzbekistan airline Silk Avia is celebrating the arrival of a brand-new ATR 72-600 aircraft after the turboprop landed in the country’s capital city, Tashkent.
Silk Avia’s newest ATR 72-600 is the first of five of the variant that will join its fleet to be deployed on domestic routes in Uzbekistan.
According to the planemaker it is the first time a new ATR aircraft has ever been delivered to Central Asia.
The new turboprop was officially inducted by Silk Avia, a member of Uzbekistan Airways Group, on February 16, 2024, and was duly welcomed with a traditional water arch.
The new aircraft is part of an agreement announced in November 2022 during the visit of the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, in Paris, France.
Three of the new ATR 72-600 aircraft are being purchased directly from the manufacturer while the other two regional aircraft are on a long-term agreement with lessor Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC).
The first ATR 72-600 was delivered by ATR to NAC in December 2023 before officially joining Silk Avia.
“Silk Avia, which has become a part of Uzbekistan Airways Group, has set an ambitious goal to become a leader in air transportation on domestic routes of the country. It is planned to constantly expand the route network, increase the number of flights and efficiently operate them on new ATR 72-600. This type of aircraft will help to provide the necessary conditions for a comfortable flight,” Shukhrat Khudaykulov, Chairman of the Board of Uzbekistan Airways, said
He added: “Moreover, our common goal, the goal of New Uzbekistan, is to make flights affordable and develop domestic tourism of the country. It will undoubtedly be achieved through flights on ATR brand turboprop aircraft.”
The new plane arrived with an all-white fuselage but will soon be adorned in the traditional Silk Avia livery with the image of the national khan-atlas by Uzbekistan Airways Technics.
“We warmly welcome Silk Avia to the ATR family. Their selection of the ATR 72-600 marks an important step as we begin operations in the promising market of Uzbekistan and wider Central Asia. Silk Avia will play a pioneering role in demonstrating the huge benefits affordable and low-emission regional aviation can deliver to this dynamic region,” Alexis Vidal, ATR’s Senior Vice President Commercial, said.
Vidal added: “Our advanced ATR 72-600 turboprops are the ideal solution to connect communities and energize the national economy through their efficiency and flexibility. I look forward to following their progress and growth for many years to come.”
According to ch-aviation.com, Silk Avia already operates three ATR 72-600s that were acquired from Bangkok Airways.