Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- From 20 May 2024, Uzbekistan Airways will receive two wide-body long-haul Airbus A330 aircraft on wet leasing terms from the air carrier Qanot Sharq.

An agreement for the supply of two Airbus A330s on a wet lease (lease with the crew) was signed between Uzbekistan Airways and Qanot Sharq.

The lease period will be 1 year. These airliners will serve passengers in a special blue livery, different from the classic livery of Uzbekistan Airways aircraft.

The aircraft are designed for long-haul flights over 4 hours of flight time. At the initial stage, they will be used on routes from Tashkent to Istanbul, and then to Jeddah and Seoul. The aircraft are powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines.

Uzbekistan Airways noted that the first flight is scheduled for 20 May on the route Tashkent - Istanbul - Tashkent.

Chairman of the Board of Uzbekistan Airways Shukhrat Khudaykulov noted that this decision was made as part of the airline’s development strategy and the implementation of Uzbekistan Airways plans to expand the geography of flights and increase the number of frequencies on existing routes.

“Our goal is to systematically develop every year in order to maintain the status of Uzbekistan Airways as one of the most reliable and safe air carriers in the international arena,” he added.