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Silk Avia

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Silk Avia
IATA ICAO Call sign
US USA SILK
FoundedJuly 6, 2021
Commenced operationsApril 25, 2023
HubsTashkent International Airport
Fleet size7
Destinations15
Parent companyUzbekistan Helicopters [1]
Headquarters Uzbekistan Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Key peopleSardor Irmukhamedov (Chairman) [2]
Websitehttps://www.silk-avia.com/

Silk Avia LCC, better known as Silk Avia or Silkavia, is a regional airline based in Uzbekistan with its hub at Tashkent International Airport.[3] The airline was established as a low-cost carrier and is a partner of Uzbekistan Airways. Silk Avia is owned by Uzbekistan Helicopters.[1] Currently, Silk Avia operates flights to 15 destinations, with plans to expand its network to 40 destinations.[4] Silk Avia has adopted the IATA and ICAO codes of US Airways.

History

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Ceremonial welcome of the first Silk Avia aircraft along with its crew

Silk Avia was founded on July 6, 2021, under the initiative of Uzbekistan's Ministry of Transport.[5] The goal was to promote domestic tourism and business activities.[6] The airline's establishment was officially announced in November 2021 at the Dubai Airshow.[7] Silk Avia became the first operator of ATR 72 aircraft in Central Asia.[8] Initially, the airline began operations with three aircraft previously operated by Bangkok Airways.[9] On March 18, 2023, its first aircraft departed from Bangkok and arrived in Tashkent on March 21, 2023, after six stopovers.[10] Following test flights, commercial operations began on April 25, 2023.[11]

On November 23, 2022, the airline placed an order for five new ATR aircraft with Avions de Transport Régional GIE.[12] Three aircraft were sourced directly from the manufacturer and two through a leasing agreement with Nordic Aviation Capital. The lease arrangement was announced at the Paris Air Show on June 20, 2023.[13] The first aircraft under this lease agreement was delivered in February 2024.[14]

In August 2024, the airline operated its first international flight to the Issyk-Kul region of Kyrgyzstan. In the same month, regular flights from Samarkand to the city of Turkestan in Kazakhstan are planned to begin.[15][16][17]

Structural changes

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In October 2023, in accordance with the decision of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan regarding additional measures to organize aviation activities effectively, a number of changes were made within the national airline "Uzbekistan Airways" (Uzbekistan Airways).[18][19]

According to the decision:

  • 100% of Silk Avia's capital was transferred to the charter capital of Uzbekistan Helicopters.[15]
  • Three ATR 72-600 aircraft purchased by "Uzbekistan Airports" were transferred to the possession of Uzbekistan Helicopters.[20]
  • Uzbekistan Helicopters was tasked with increasing its fleet of ATR 72-600 aircraft.[21]

These changes were made with the goal of developing and improving the efficiency of Uzbekistan's aviation sector.[22][23]

Fleet

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Silk Avia's ATR 72-600 aircraft is preparing for flight US-903 to Tashkent at Urgench International Airport
Passengers disembarking from Silk Avia's ATR 72-600 aircraft at Tashkent International Airport

As of December 2024, the Silk Avia fleet consists of the following aircraft types:[24]

  • ATR 42-600: 2 on order.[25]
  • ATR 72-600: 5 in service, 3 on order. Three of these aircraft were acquired from Bangkok Airways.
  • Let L-410 Turbolet: 2 in service, 2 on order. These are operated on behalf of Uzbekistan Airways.

In total, Silk Avia operates 7 aircraft and has 7 additional units on order.

Livery

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The Silk Avia livery takes inspiration from its name, "silk." It features a satin fabric design that extends from the nose to the middle of the fuselage. The colors reflect traditional tones found in Central Asian satin fabric, notably seen in the patterns of a tubeteika (traditional cap). The airline plans to introduce multiple variations of the design in the future.[26]

Destinations

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As of October 2024, Silk Avia operates flights to the following destinations:[27]

Silk Avia Destinations
Country City Airport Notes
Kazakhstan Türkistan Äziret Sūltan International Airport [28]
Kyrgyzstan Tamchy Ysykköl International Airport Seasonal
Uzbekistan Bukhara Bukhara International Airport [29][30]
Fergana Fergana International Airport
Kokand Kokand Airport
Muynak Muynak Airport
Namangan Namangan International Airport
Navoiy Navoiy International Airport
Nukus Nukus International Airport
Qarshi Qarshi Airport
Samarkand Samarkand International Airport Base
Shahrisabz Shahrisabz Airport
Tashkent Tashkent International Airport Hub
Termiz Termiz Airport
Urganch Urgench International Airport [30]
Zomin Zomin Airport

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Uzbekistan Helicopters стала владельцем Silk Avia".
  2. ^ [1]
  3. ^ "New domestic airline Silk Avia operates first flight to Tashkent". Daryo.uz. 2023-03-18. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  4. ^ "A new airline, Silk Avia, is being established in Uzbekistan". Silk Avia. 2024-01-11. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  5. ^ "Silk Avia history from Europe, Uzbekistan". Airline History. 2023-04-26. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  6. ^ Cross, Lee (2022-11-23). "ATR 72 Chosen for Uzbekistan Start-Up, Silk Avia". Airways. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  7. ^ "A new airline Silk Avia is being created in Uzbekistan". UzDaily.uz. 2021-11-25. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  8. ^ Kaminski-Morrow, David (2022-11-23). "New Uzbek carrier Silk Avia solidifies ATR 72 fleet plan". Flight Global. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  9. ^ Woerkom, Klaas-Jan van (2024-02-19). "Uzbekistan Airways subsidiary Silk Avia receives first brand-new ATR". Luchtvaartnieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  10. ^ "The first aircraft of Silk Avia flew to Tashkent". Silk Avia. 2024-01-11. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  11. ^ "Silk Avia receives its first new aircraft in Tashkent". Kun.uz. 2024-02-17. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  12. ^ Curran, Andrew (2022-11-25). "Uzbekistan's Silk Avia signs for five more ATR72-600s". ch-aviation. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  13. ^ Nadalet, Ivan (2023-06-20). "Uzbekistan's Silk Avia to lease two more ATR72s". ch-aviation. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  14. ^ "Silk Avia introduces first new ATR 72-600 in Central Asia". ATR. 2024-02-19. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  15. ^ a b "Tashkent formalizes change in Silk Avia ownership and fleet expansion". airguide.info. 2023-10-23. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
  16. ^ "Silk Avia to launch flights from Tashkent to the Issyk-Kul Lake shore starting June 16". aviapages.ru (in Russian). 2024-05-29. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
  17. ^ "Silk Avia launches regular flights from Tashkent to Tamchy and back" (in Russian). News Kg. 2024-05-21. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
  18. ^ "Additional measures on effective aviation activity organization". lex.uz. 2023-10-16. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
  19. ^ "Silk Avia is being transferred to Uzbekistan Helicopters". Xabardor.uz. 2023-10-19. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
  20. ^ "Uzbekistan Helicopters becomes the owner of Silk Avia". Uzdaily.uz. 2023-10-19. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  21. ^ Ulug'bek, Fayzullaev (2023-11-23). "The President's Decision on Additional Measures on Effective Aviation Activity Organization (PQ-337, 16.10.2023)". Toshkent Region Justice Department. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  22. ^ Jarvis, Howard (2023-10-23). "Tashkent formalizes change in Silk Avia ownership". ch-aviation. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  23. ^ "Uzbekistan Airports' share in Silk Avia will be transferred to Uzbekistan Helicopters". Daryo.uz. 2023-10-19. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  24. ^ "Silkavia Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. 2024-08-16. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  25. ^ Jarvis, Howard (2023-10-23). "Tashkent formalises change in Silk Avia ownership". ch-aviation. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  26. ^ "Colorful Satin Fabric Themed Startup Silk Avia Bringing First ATR aircraft to Uzbekistan !". FL360aero.com. 2022-11-25. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  27. ^ "Silk Avia routes and airport map". FlightConnections. 2024-10-20. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  28. ^ Silk Avia запускает рейсы в казахстанский Туркестан
  29. ^ https://daryo.uz/ru/2024/11/28/silk-avia-budet-case-letat-v-buharu-iz-taskenta Silk Avia будет летать до 19 раз в неделю из Ташкента в Бухару
  30. ^ a b Silk Avia запускает рейсы по маршруту Бухара — Ургенч — Бухара
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