Central Asia Aviation 2025 Review: Fleets, Infrastructure and Deals

Brief from CentralAsia+ Aero (t.me/centralasiaplusaero)

 
January
  1. Kazakhstan's third largest city airport, Shymkent, inaugurated a new terminal.
  2. A Vietnamese investor signed a purchase agreement to acquire a controlling stake in Kazakhstan's Qazaq Air.
  3. Low-cost carrier FlyArystan, part of the Air Astana Group (Kazakhstan), debuted its own ‘FS’ code operations and fully transitioned to its own air operator certificate.
  4. Uzbekistan's regional carrier Silk Avia completed the first two-year base maintenance for its ATR 72-600 turboprop.
  5. Low-cost carrier FlyArystan (Kazakhstan) took delivery of another new Airbus A320neo, increasing the number of aircraft of this type to 11.
  6. Kazakhstan became the first country in Central Asia to approve a CO₂ emissions reduction plan for aviation.
  7. An open skies regime was introduced at Atyrau airport in Kazakhstan.
  8. Kazakhstan's flag carrier Air Astana received another new Airbus A320neo on a long-term lease from Avolon.
  9. Tajikistan's flag carrier Somon Air signed an agreement with DAE Capital for the lease of two new Boeing 737MAX-8 aircraft, to be delivered in 2026.

February
  1. ICAO will prepare a strategic master plan for the development of Kazakhstan's civil aviation industry through 2050.
  2. Construction of a new terminal started at Kyrgyzstan's second largest airport, Osh International.
  3. Uzbekistan’s Qanot Sharq signed a lease agreement with the Air Lease Corporation for five new Airbus A321neo LR/XLRs to be delivered in 2026 and 2027.
  4. Kazakhstan’s SCAT Airlines announced plans to transform its base airport in Shymkent into a hub with construction of an 8,000-square-meter hangar complex, a cargo terminal, and a new 3,500-meter runway.
  5. SCAT Airlines expects to receive 19 narrowbody aircraft through ownership or financial leasing between 2025 and 2028.
  6. Almaty Airport starts the second phase of its reconstruction, including renovation of the old terminal building, construction of a new taxiway, renovation of the main runway, and building new aircraft parking stands.
  7. Uzbekistan’s business aviation operator Asia Union launched commercial passenger flights with a single Airbus A320-200 narrowbody aircraft.

March
  1. The arrival of a new Airbus A320neo brought the Kazakhstan’s Air Astana Group fleet to 60 aircraft: full-service carrier Air Astana now has a fleet of 35 aircraft, while low-cost carrier FlyArystan operates 25.
  2. Uzbek passenger carrier Centrum Air took delivery of its first brand-new Airbus A320neo.
  3. Reconstruction of the runway, apron and signal light systems at Manas International Airport in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek is slated to be completed by the end of this year.
  4. Uzbekistan-based startup cargo carrier SpaceBee received its second Boeing 767-200 freighter.
  5. Uzbekistan’s largest cargo carrier by fleet size, My Freighter, received its first Boeing 757F through leasing agreement with Titan Aviation Leasing.
  6. SkyGuard, a new Uzbeki privately-held cargo carrier, plans to commence revenue operations in April with a single Boeing 757-200F.
  7. Scheduled flight operations resumed at Andijan Airport (Uzbekistan) after a two-year hiatus caused by reconstruction and modernization of the airfield complex.
  8. A new cargo complex with a terminal capable of handling 120,000 tons per year was inaugurated at Tashkent Airport.

April
  1. Uzbekistan’s cargo carrier My Freighter signed an interline agreement with Mexican airline Aeromexico.
  2. Regional carrier Silk Avia, a member of Uzbekistan Airways Group, took delivery of its fourth and final L-410 UVP-E20 turboprop aircraft.
  3. Kazakhstan’s Air Astana announced it would postpone the launch of direct flights to the United States due to another delay in the delivery of its new long-haul Boeing 787 aircraft.
  4. Kazakhstan-based air cargo carrier Alpha Sky announced the launch of a Boeing Business Jet 737-700 charter passenger service.
  5. Incheon International Airport Corp. (IIAC), the operator of South Korea's largest airport, Seoul Incheon, won the tender for modernization and management of Urgench International Airport (UGC, Uzbekistan).
  6. Kazakhstan's LCC FlyArystan took delivery of another A320ceo, bringing its fleet to 26 aircraft.
  7. In 2025–2026, the fleet of airlines in the countries of Central Asia could expand by more than 50 aircraft, according to publicly announced procurement plans.
  8. Georgian Airways added a Boeing 737-900ER to its fleet, the first airplane of this type for the Georgia’s flag carrier.
  9. Kazakh authorities continue to develop the country’s airport infrastructure amid growing air traffic.
  10. Uzbekistan rebuilt its fifth regional airport in recent years, Sariosiyo, in the Surkhandarya region.

May
  1. Tashkent-based Centrum Air received its first Rolls-Royce-powered Airbus A330.
  2. Urgench airport in Uzbekistan will receive a new runway, passenger and cargo terminals under a modernization project estimated US$223 million.
  3. Vietnamese investors renamed Kazakhstan’s regional carrier Qazaq Air to Vietjet Qazaqstan; with plans to develop it as a low-cost carrier.
  4. Uzbekistan's air cargo carrier My Freighter received its seventh Boeing 767-300F via its strategic partner, Air Transport Services Group (ATSG).
  5. Uzbekistan-based Centrum Air signed an agreement with the lessor Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) for an unspecified number of Airbus A320.
  6. The government of Uzbekistan extended domestic routes subsidies, previously available only to the national carrier Uzbekistan Airways, to other local airlines.
  7. Armenia’s Civil Aviation Committee suspended the air operator certificate (AOC) of the Yerevan-based private carrier Armenian Airlines for six months.
  8. Turkey’s TAV Holding will invest US$362 million in the development of Almaty Airport in 2025–2029.
  9. Terminals Astana Airport Ltd. has signed a 25-year, US$1.1 billion investment agreement for trust management of Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport (NQZ) in Astana.
  10. Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) joined the IATA Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) program.
  11. Uzbekistan's Qanot Sharq returned two Airbus A330-200 widebody aircraft from wet leases.
  12. Construction of a new international airport commenced in Jalal-Abad, Kyrgyzstan.
  13. Kyrgyzstan-based carrier Tez Jet added a McDonnell Douglas MD-83 passenger aircraft to its fleet.
  14. A new passenger airline, Tashkent Air, launches operations in Uzbekistan.
  15. The new Balkanabat International Airport (Jebel) became operational in Turkmenistan.
  16. Uzbekistan's cargo operator My Freighter Airlines signed an interline agreement with Icelandair Cargo.
  17. Lachin International Airport officially opened in Azerbaijan's Lachin District.
  18. Uzbekistan’s logistics group Centrum Holding took double delivery for both of its subsidiary airlines: My Freighter (Boeing 767-300ER) and Centrum Air (Airbus A320neo).
  19. FlyArystan (part of Kazakhstan's Air Astana Group) expanded its fleet to 27 aircraft by leasing a new Airbus A320neo from Avolon.

June
  1. The new passenger terminal at Shymkent Airport (CIT, Kazakhstan) become fully operational.
  2. Sariosiyo Airport (ICAO: UTSR), a regional airport in southern Uzbekistan reopened for commercial aviation after a 30-year hiatus.
  3. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) granted unlimited fleet authorization for Uzbekistan’s carrier Fly Khiva.
  4. Uzbekistan Airways and Air India entered into an interline partnership.
  5. Tashkent Islam Karimov International Airport (TAS, Uzbekistan) put into operation the renovated part of its Arrivals terminal.
  6. Uzbekistan’s Centrum Air agreed to acquire two Airbus A321neo aircraft in Long Range variant through lease agreement with AerCap.
  7. Uzbekistan’s cargo airline My Freighter signed an interline agreement with Bangladesh’s national carrier, Biman Bangladesh Airlines.
  8. Uzbekistan Airways signed a lease agreement with China Aircraft Leasing Company (CALC) for two Airbus A321neo aircraft to be delivered in 2026.
  9. The government of Tajikistan has introduced an Open Skies regime at all four international airports, with some exceptions.

July
  1. Baku Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD, Azerbaijan) completed the ACI APEX in Safety review program and was awarded ISO 50001:2018 certification.
  2. Uzbekistan’s Centrum Air took delivery of another Airbus A330-300, the tenth aircraft in its fleet.
  3. Kazakhstan and ICAO signed a civil aviation master plan, setting a framework for the sector’s growth through 2050.
  4. Centrum Air expanded its Airbus A321neo fleet to three aircraft, becoming the largest private operator of this type in Uzbekistan.
  5. Kazakhstan’s SCAT Airlines took delivery of a new Boeing 737 MAX-8, the fourth of its type in airline’s fleet.
  6. A national cargo airline is expected to begin operations in Kazakhstan in early 2026, according to Samruk-Kazyna National Welfare Fund.
  7. Air Astana and China Southern Airlines signed a codeshare agreement.

August
  1. A multimodal logistics hub will be built at Manas International Airport in the Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek.
  2. A new departure hall opened at Fergana International Airport (FEG, Uzbekistan), increasing throughput by 2.7 times.
  3. Uzbekistan Airways and China Southern Airlines signed a memorandum of understanding to explore deeper, diversified collaboration.
  4. Georgian cargo carrier Geosky took delivery of its third Boeing 767-300F freighter.
  5. Uzbekistan plans to built a new airport in Tashkent by 2030 capable of handling 20 million passengers annually.
  6. Almaty Airport launched the Horizon infrastructure modernization project through 2050.
  7. Uzbekistan and Indonesia signed a new air traffic agreement, significantly expanding the opportunities for carriers of the two countries.
  8. International flights resumed at Andijan airport (AZN, Uzbekistan) following large-scale reconstruction.
  9. Kyrgyz regional airport Kazarman is finally set to launch regular service after a modernization.
  10. Azerbaijan’s national air carrier AZAL (Azerbaijan Airlines) and Gulf Air, the flag carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, have signed a codeshare agreement.
  11. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan agreed to increase the number of regular flights and destinations between the countries.
  12. Kazakhstan’s Air Astana Group continues to upgrade its Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities, and announced plans to construct two new hangars in 2026.
  13. Uzbekistan’s budget carrier Asia Union Airlines rebranded as FlyOne Asia after joining Moldova’s FlyOne Group.
  14. Kazakhstan’s SCAT airline increased base maintenance volumes by 50% in the first half of 2025.
  15. State-owned holding Airports of Kyrgyzstan secured US$55 million to add two narrowbody jets to its subsidiary Asman Airlines fleet.

September
  1. Kyrgyzstan's regional carrier Asman Airlines took delivery of its third Dash 8-400 turboprop.
  2. The new airport Tashkent-Vostochny (ICAO code: UTTP) received its first technical flight.
  3. Azerbaijani cargo carrier Silk Way West Airlines took delivery of its third Boeing 777F.
  4. Uzbekistan’s Centrum Air took delivery of its third Airbus A330-300 widebody.
  5. The government of Kazakhstan expects the country’s commercial aircraft fleet to double by 2030, reaching 216 aircraft.
  6. Air Astana and Air India signed an expanded codeshare agreement.
  7. Kazakhstan’s SCAT Airlines expanded its Boeing 737MAX fleet to 10 aircraft.
  8. Preliminary results of ICAO audit showed Kazakhstan’s significant progress in a number of areas in aviation security and facilitation over the past eight years.
  9. Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) took delivery of its fourth Airbus A320neo as part of ongoing fleet modernization program.
  10. New passenger and cargo terminals will open in 2026 at Namangan Airport, the third-largest gateway in Uzbekistan.
  11. Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) and Maldivian signed strategic interline partnership agreement.
  12. Uzbekistan Airways announced the single largest order in its history to acquire up to 22 Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
  13. Construction of a second runway and cargo terminal at Shymkent Airport in Kazakhstan is slated to commence this year.
  14. Uzbekistan-based Fly Khiva plans to expand its fleet to eight aircraft from current three.
  15. SCAT Airlines became Kazakhstan’s largest carrier by fleet size after taking delivery of another Boeing 737MAX-8.
  16. Kazakhstan’s Alpha Sky signed a letter of intent to lease two Boeing 747 freighters.
  17. Uzbekistan surpassed neighboring Kazakhstan as Central Asia’s largest air cargo market in 2024, according to IATA.
  18. The privately managed Uzbek transportation and logistics company Centrum Holding signed documents with Citigroup Inc. and Oppenheimer Holdings Inc. "to receive support in entering independent markets."

October
  1. Kazakhstan’s Vietjet Qazaqstan will begin taking delivery of new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft between 2026 and 2030.
  2. Uzbekistan-based air freight specialist SkyGuard Airlines took delivery of its second Boeing 757-200PCF freighter.
  3. International business aviation operator ExecuJet signed an agreement with Silk Way AFEZCO to build a business aviation center at Alat International Airport near Baku (Azerbaijan).
  4. Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) received another factory-new Airbus A320neo.
  5. Construction of largest in Uzbekistan airport began in Tashkent.
  6. Incheon Corp. signed a concession agreement to modernize and manage Urgench Airport in Uzbekistan.
  7. Air Astana added another new Airbus A321neo to its fleet.
  8. dnata (Dubai National Air Travel Agency) and Azerbaijan-based Silk Way Group launched a joint venture to create a major aviation services hub at the new Alat International Airport in Baku, Azerbaijan.
  9. A Presidential decree projects Uzbekistan’s airlines will carry 24 million passengers annually, expand fleet to 180 aircraft by 2030.
  10. The Kazakh airline Alpha Sky plans to build an aircraft maintenance complex at its base Turkistan Airport (HSA).

November
  1. Uzbekistan's Centrum Air added another Airbus A320ceo, bringing its narrowbody fleet to ten aircraft.
  2. Uzbekistan’s My Freighter announced the signing of an interline agreement with U.S.-based airline National Air Cargo.
  3. The Georgian Geosky took delivery of its fourth Boeing 767-300F freighter.
  4. Kazakhsan’s Air Astana signed a preliminary agreement for additional Boeing 787 aircraft.
  5. Somon Air, Tajikistan's national air carrier committed to place its largest-ever order, selecting up to 14 Boeing aircraft.
  6. Uzbekistan Airways firmed options for eight additional Boeing 787-9 aircraft.
  7. ICAO audit showed Kazakhstan improved aviation security compliance from 83% to 95.7%.
  8. Air Astana signed a contract for up to 15 Boeing 787-9 aircraft financed via ExIm Bank.
  9. A government Tashkent-Vostochny Airport (ICAO code: UZTP) was renamed Tashkent-Khumo after hosting its first foreign leader flight.
  10. Kazakhsan’s SCAT Airlines took delivery of another new Boeing 737MAX-8, increasing its fleet of the 737MAX narrowbody family to 12 aircraft.
  11. Uzbekistan Airways signed letters of intent with Chinese companies ICBC Aviation Leasing and CALC to lease two and four new Airbus A321neo aircraft, respectively.
  12. Azerbaijan’s Silk Way West airline converted options for two Airbus A350F freighters into firm orders.
  13. Uzbekistan’s Centrum Air will lease five new Airbus A320neo family aircraft from Avolon.
  14. Kazakhstan’s Air Astana Group signed a MoU for up to 50 Airbus A320neo family aircraft.
  15. Boeing announced delivery schedules for aircraft destined for Kazakhstan’s Air Astana and Vietjet Qazaqstan.
  16. Uzbekistan-based Fly Khiva postpones fleet expansion to 2026.
  17. Seven more Central Asian airlines plan to undergo IOSA operational safety audit.
  18. IATA reported air transport directly contributes nearly US$100 million to Uzbekistan’s GDP.
  19. Vietjet Qazaqstan’s new Boeing 737MAX fleet expansion program will span four years.

December
  1. 60% of civil aircraft maintenance for Central Asian airlines is performed abroad.
  2. Turkmenistan Airlines (T5) become a member of the International Air Cargo Association (TIACA).
  3. Uzbekistan’s commercial aircraft fleet has more than tripled since 2019.
  4. FlyOne Armenia completed the acquisition of three Airbus A320 aircraft from Avia Solutions Group.
  5. Uzbekistan’s Centrum Air will receive three new Airbus A321neo aircraft in Q4 2027 via leasing from AerCap.
  6. British defense contractor BAE Systems announced plans to sell half of its stake in Kazakhstan's Air Astana.
  7. Uzbekistan's Qanot Sharq took delivery of its first of four A321-200neo XLR aircraft via leasing from Air Lease.
  8. Uzbekistan’s My Freighter signed an interline agreement with the Canadian carrier Cargojet.
  9. Kazakhsan’s Air Astana plans to introduce base maintenance for Boeing 787 aircraft.
  10. The national airport operator Uzbekistan Airports received an average ESG rating in its first international sustainability assessment.
  11. Uzbekistan Airways Technics (UAT) completed maintenance of a Boeing 767-300 cargo aircraft for Georgian airline Geosky.
  12. State-owned Asman Airlines (Kyrgyzstan) will receive fourth O400 turboprop in 20026.
  13. The Government of Kazakhstan approved a digital transformation map for the transport sector.
  14. Uzbekistan will launch civil aviation university to support expanding national fleet.