This article is also available in: Русский (Russian) Uzbek
A new private cargo airline, SpaceBee Airlines, has been registered in Uzbekistan. Just over a month ago, the airline obtained its Air Operator Certificate (AOC)—a key document required for flight operations.
This information was shared by analyst Timurmalik Elmuratov.
The co-founder and CEO of SpaceBee Airlines is Mukhtarjon Khaitov, who has 16 years of experience as a pilot. In June, the company acquired its first Boeing 767, which will be used for cargo transportation.
Second Cargo Carrier in 2024
SpaceBee Airlines became the second private cargo airline in Uzbekistan to receive an AOC in 2024. The first was Fly Khiva, which obtained its certification in February. Like SpaceBee Airlines, Fly Khiva is also a private cargo airline, operating a Boeing 767 for freight services. Fly Khiva completed its first flight in June, delivering cargo from Tashkent to Erbil (Iraq).
Growing Demand for Cargo Transportation
Uzbekistan has been experiencing stable growth in demand for cargo air transportation. In 2018–2019, the volume of cargo turnover via air transport amounted to 115–130 million ton-kilometers. Over the past three years, however, this figure has increased to 220–330 million ton-kilometers.
The growth of trade with other countries has driven demand for cargo services, opening up opportunities for the development of new cargo airlines. Among the four Uzbek carriers specializing exclusively in freight transportation, two began operations in 2024, highlighting the potential of this sector.
Economic Growth and Cargo Prospects
Uzbekistan’s economic growth and expanding international trade create ideal conditions for the further development of cargo air transportation. As the country’s economy continues to grow and open up, the volume of cargo transportation is expected to increase rapidly.
In general, everything related to freight transportation and storage offers huge potential. The sector is expected to grow alongside international trade and the increasing demand for fast and reliable delivery services.
“As the economy grows and becomes more open, these numbers will only rise. In fact, everything related to cargo—from transportation to storage—has excellent prospects,” emphasized Timurmalik Elmuratov.
The article may contain inaccuracies as it is translated by AI. For more details, please refer to the Russian version of the article. If you notice any inaccuracies, you can send corrections via the Telegram bot: Uzvaibik_bot.