The Uzbek company Silk Avia received its first brand-new ATR 72-600, marking the first aircraft directly delivered by ATR in the Central Asia region.
This aircraft, leased to Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC), is part of an order announced in November 2022 during the visit of Uzbekistan’s President, Mr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, to Paris.
The contract encompasses a total of five new ATR 72-600 aircraft, with two supplied by NAC and three directly by ATR.
Silk Avia, now part of Uzbekistan Airways, will integrate these aircraft into its current fleet of ATR, comprising three second-hand ATR 72-600 acquired from Bangkok Airways and received in the first semester of 2023.
Shukhrat Khudaykulov, Chairman of the Board of Uzbekistan Airways, stated: «Silk Avia, now part of the Uzbekistan Airways Group, has set the ambitious goal of becoming a leader in domestic air transportation routes. Constantly expanding the route network, increasing flight frequency, and efficiently operating them with the new ATR 72-600 are planned.«
«This type of aircraft will contribute to providing the necessary conditions for comfortable flights. Furthermore, our common objective, the goal of New Uzbekistan, is to make flights affordable and develop domestic tourism. Undoubtedly, this will be achieved through flights on ATR turboprop airplanes,» added Khudaykulov.
Norman C.T. Liu, President and CEO of NAC, remarked: «We welcome Silk Avia, part of the Uzbekistan Airways Group, as a customer and are pleased to deliver the first new ATR 72-600 to the airline.»
Alexis Vidal, ATR’s SVP Commercial, expressed: «We warmly welcome Silk Avia to the ATR family. Their choice of the ATR 72-600 marks a significant step in commencing our operations in the promising markets of Uzbekistan and Central Asia.»
«Silk Avia will play a pioneering role in demonstrating the enormous benefits that affordable and low-emission regional aviation can bring to this dynamic region,» added Vidal.
