Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Uzbekistan Airways receives the fifth Airbus 321neo LR aircraft on 23 December.

An aircraft with registration number UK32104 arrived in Tashkent from Hamburg, Germany, where one of the Airbus factories is located.

In keeping with aviation tradition, the new aircraft was greeted with a water arch by fire trucks.

According to the airline, the aircraft performed its first test flight on 20 December. And on December 22, the preparatory process for the flight to Tashkent began.

Uzbekistan Airways operates the A321neo aircraft on long-haul routes such as Seoul, Riga, Kuala Lumpur, London, and Frankfurt. The aircraft is designed for 188 passengers, including 12 for business class and 176 for economy class.

“Uzbekistan Airways is completing 2022 with another achievement - replenishing its fleet with a new aircraft. This year, the plan to attract five Airbus aircraft has been successfully implemented. Actions aimed at expanding the fleet will allow Uzbekistan Airways to carry out more flights, restore communication with other countries and open new destinations. In addition, the new aircraft will help Uzbekistan Airways strengthen its status as one of the most reliable air carriers in the international arena, Ilkhom Makhkamov, Chairman of the Board of Uzbekistan Airways, said.

The acquisition of new aircraft will help expand the network of routes and increase the volume of passenger traffic. The unification of the airline’s aircraft fleet is defined in the roadmap to accelerate the process of transformation in Uzbekistan Airways. The airline plans to open new flights, restore previously popular routes to Europe and Asia.

“We congratulate our long-standing partner Uzbekistan Airways on the delivery of another A321neo LR aircraft and the further expansion of the Airbus aircraft fleet. We are confident that these modern, efficient and comfortable aircrafts will provide Uzbekistan Airways with its maximum advantages, while the increased flight range of the aircrafts will allow the airline to actively develop its route network. We intend to continue and strengthen cooperation with the airline in the future,” said Kimon Sotiropoulo, Airbus Vice President for Europe and Central Asia.

On 14 February, 7 and 25 March, as well as 17 December 2022, Uzbekistan Airways received A321neo aircrafts.

It should be noted that in November of this year, another contract was signed between Uzbekistan Airways and Airbus for the purchase of 12 new aircraft of the Airbus family (including the A320NEO and A321NEO) with the condition of delivery in 2029-2030.