Ten years ago, on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the Republic of Uzbekistan's Independence, the first Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner of the national carrier arrived in Tashkent with the registration number UK78701. The arrival of this modern aircraft was a significant event for Uzbekistan's civil aviation, and Uzbekistan Airways marked this anniversary on August 27th in Tashkent.
The solemn event was attended by employees of Uzbekistan Airways and the Uzbekistan Airways Technics aircraft repair plant, aviation veterans, public and media representatives. Guests included representatives from Boeing, as well as the US Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Jonathan Henick. The introduction of the Dreamliner provided Uzbekistan Airways with new opportunities for developing long-haul flights, expanding its international network, and adopting advanced technologies.
The first Boeing 787-8 was put into commercial service in 2016. Subsequent years saw the arrival of additional aircraft: the second unit arrived in the second half of 2016, the third in May 2018, two more in 2019, and the sixth Boeing 787-8 arrived in Tashkent in May 2021.
Uzbekistan Airways has demonstrated a high level of proficiency with the Boeing 787, earning recognition from Boeing Corporation for high safety and regularity performance. A specialized Composite Materials Repair Center was established at Uzbekistan Airways Technics, capable of working with models such as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The engineering and technical staff of the airline has continuously increased their competencies in the maintenance of the aircraft, its systems, components, and engines.
A significant achievement was the event on May 8, 2026, when Uzbekistan Airways Technics specialists conducted complex engine testing of the Boeing 787 directly on the wing (On-Wing testing). This was made possible by specialized personnel training and international certification, as well as mastering the procedures for Engine Split, assembly, and disassembly of the GEnx-1B engine parts.
Today, this date coincides with the 35th anniversary of the Republic of Uzbekistan's Independence. Over this decade, the national airline has transformed, moving from mastering the first Dreamliner to establishing its own technical and professional base for its operation, marking a new stage in the development of its long-haul fleet.
Over the past decade, the company has not only created the necessary infrastructure to accommodate the new type of aircraft but has also formed its own Boeing 787 flight school. A Boeing 787 squadron has been established at Uzbekistan Airways, commanders and second pilots have been trained, and the accumulated experience has allowed for the cultivation of in-house flight instructors who now pass on knowledge to the new generation of pilots.
A new step in pilot training will be the equipping of the Uzbekistan Airways Training Center with a full-function FFS Boeing 787-9 simulator—the first simulator of this type in Central Asia. The acquisition of the simulator is part of a contract between Uzbekistan Airways and Boeing for the supply of 22 Boeing 787-9 aircraft.
The simulator, manufactured by the Canadian company CAE Inc., holds the highest Level D certification. It guarantees the most accurate reproduction of the cockpit, systems, and flight characteristics of the aircraft, allowing for a complete cycle of pilot training. The implementation of the FFS Boeing 787-9 will enable Uzbekistan Airways to conduct training domestically, increasing the autonomy of the training process and reducing the need for trips to foreign training centers, which is critical given the expansion of the Dreamliner fleet.
Currently, a complete professional ecosystem has developed around the Dreamliner at Uzbekistan Airways, including a technical base, engineering competencies, a flight squadron, instructors, and a modern personnel training system.
International recognition of the high level of Boeing 787 mastery was achieved early in its operation. Based on the results of the first six months of commercial operation (from December 2016 to May 2017), Uzbekistan Airways was recognized by Boeing Corporation as the best operator of the Boeing 787 for 100% safety and flight regularity metrics.
A major milestone of the first decade was July 27, 2017, when the airline made its first direct flight from Tashkent to New York. Currently, direct flights to America operate five times a week, offering passengers new opportunities on long-haul routes.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner has become a key element of Uzbekistan Airways' fleet on intercontinental routes, connecting Uzbekistan with major global hubs. The history of the Dreamliner within the airline is primarily the story of people: pilots, flight attendants, engineers, and technicians who laid the professional foundation during the adoption of the new technology.
Uzbekistan Airways expresses gratitude to the specialists who pioneered the adoption of the Boeing 787 and to all employees ensuring its reliable operation over the past ten years.
Shuhrat Khudaykulov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of JSC 'Uzbekistan Airways', noted: 'It is symbolic that the first Boeing 787 Dreamliner arrived in Uzbekistan on the eve of our country's 25th Independence Anniversary, and we are celebrating its tenth year of operation alongside the republic's 35th Independence Anniversary. Over these years, we have not just mastered a new type of aircraft—we have created our own professional school, trained flight and engineering personnel, and developed our technical and educational base. Behind all these achievements is the hard work of the large Uzbekistan Airways team. Today, the accumulated experience allows us to confidently move to the next, significantly larger stage of long-haul fleet development.'
Uzbekistan Airways is beginning a new major stage of development by marking the decade of Boeing 787 operation. In 2025, the airline signed the largest contract in its history for the supply of 22 wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, with the first deliveries expected starting in 2031.
The arrival of these new aircraft will increase carrying capacity on popular routes, improve schedule stability, expand the geography of long-haul flights, and open new intercontinental connections between Central Asia, North America, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region. These aircraft will become an important part of Uzbekistan Airways' long-term strategy to strengthen Tashkent as a leading aviation and transit hub in Central Asia. Preparation for their arrival is already underway through the development of technical competencies, training of flight crews, and the creation of a modern training base.