"The Dreamliner was not just an airplane, it was the foundation for the future." Uzbekistan Airways celebrated 10 years of Boeing 787 flights

“The Dreamliner was not just an airplane, it was the foundation for the future.” Uzbekistan Airways celebrates 10 years of Boeing 787 flights

Uzbekistan Airways held a festive event at the end of August to mark the 10th anniversary of the start of operations of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

In the summer of 2016, the first wide-body Boeing 787-8 “Dreamliner” with the flight number UK78701 was delivered to Tashkent. In November of this year, the second aircraft was received. In May 2018, the fleet was enriched with a third Dreamliner, and in 2019, two more aircraft were delivered. In May 2021, the sixth Boeing 787-8 was delivered to Tashkent.

According to Shukhrat Khudoykulov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Uzbekistan Airways, the acceptance of the first Dreamliner was the beginning of a new stage for the airline.

“This was not just another plane, but the foundation for the future, the airline that we are today,” he says.

Along with mastering the Dreamliners, the airline also developed the technical and professional base necessary to service these aircraft. In particular, the ability to independently perform complex types of maintenance was created, the Boeing 787 crew was formed, and the commander and co-pilots were trained.

“Today, the airline has a professional ecosystem based on Boeing 787 aircraft, covering the technical base, engineering potential, pilots and flight attendants, as well as the training system for employees. One of the most important results of the Dreamliner in Uzbek aviation was recorded on July 27, 2017. On this day, for the first time in history, a non-stop flight from Tashkent to New York was carried out.

Today, direct flights to the United States are carried out five times a week. “Thanks to the 787 aircraft, new long-haul routes have opened up in the airline’s geography,” says Shukhrat Khudoykulov.

Boeing’s regional sales director for the Uzbek market, Mario Antonio, said that Tashkent is of particular importance to the company. According to him, the capital has become his “second home.”

He considered this date an important event that demonstrates the results of strategic cooperation between Uzbekistan and Boeing

The 787 Dreamliner is not just an ordinary aircraft, but an aircraft that expands the capabilities of next-generation aviation and opens up new routes. The use of this aircraft has served to increase the efficiency of Uzbekistan Airways and expand its flight network, says Mario Antonio.

He said that in the first seven months of 2026, the airline's passenger traffic on Dreamliner aircraft increased by 20 percent compared to the same period in 2025.

US Ambassador to Uzbekistan Jonathan Henick noted that one of the most successful areas of cooperation between the US and Uzbekistan is the aviation sector. According to him, cooperation with American companies such as Boeing and General Electric has been beneficial for both countries.

“This is business for the United States, and technology for Uzbekistan. Together, we have achieved great success,” says Jonathan Henik.

The ambassador described the 787 Dreamliner as a symbol of one of the most advanced technologies in the American aviation industry. He noted that the purchase and operation of these aircraft have opened up new opportunities for Uzbekistan Airways and increased the prestige of the airline.

“The 787 aircraft have made the distance between Tashkent and New York much easier and more comfortable, opening up new opportunities for people,” he said.

According to Jonathan Henik, the addition of the 787 Dreamliner to the airline’s fleet has helped Uzbekistan Airways become one of the leading airlines in the region.

Valery Kosov, Director of Uzbekistan Airways Technics, said that it is planned to equip existing Boeing 787 aircraft with modern technologies, including the introduction of Internet and telephony services.

He noted that IT technologies play an important role in modern aircraft. Passengers will be able to watch movies and videos during the flight, listen to music, and also use the Internet will be able to exchange short messages with loved ones.

According to Kosov, Uzbekistan Airways Technics has the necessary competence and experience in servicing Boeing aircraft. From the very beginning, the company has been independently carrying out line and base maintenance of aircraft, in addition to replacing and repairing engines, conducting borescope inspections and starting engines.

The company has the appropriate certificate in accordance with international aviation safety requirements and is gradually expanding the list of services provided for servicing Boeing aircraft.

“A specialized center for the repair of composite materials has been established on the basis of Uzbekistan Airways Technics. The company's engineering and technical staff is gradually expanding its competence in the field of technical maintenance of aircraft, its systems, components and engines,” says Valeriy Kosov.

“On May 8, Uzbekistan Airways Technics specialists successfully independently conducted a complex engine test on the wing of a Boeing 787 for the first time after repair work - On-Wing testing.

For this, the specialists underwent special training and received an international certificate. The company's specialists have also mastered the process of separating and reassembling GEnx-1B engine parts - Engine Split, ”he added.

Erkin Gulyamov, an aviation employee who served in Uzbekistan, has more than 30 years of experience working with Boeing aircraft. According to him, the Dreamliner is much simpler and more convenient for pilots.

He also participated in the development of the airline's Boeing 767 and 757 aircraft before the Dreamliner. He also flew Airbus A300-600 and A310 aircraft during his career.

He said that the initial negotiations on cooperation with Boeing began in 1995. At that time, he participated in the conclusion of contracts and agreements with Boeing Corporation representatives under the leadership of the former head of the airline, the late Arslan Rozmetov.

Asadjon Tursunov, commander of the airline's first pilot squadron, 787 Dreamliner has been working with the aircraft for 10 years. He was part of the crew that brought the first aircraft from the factory to Tashkent.

Asadjon Tursunov, Valery Tyan (head of the airline in 2002-2017) and Ulugbek Rozuqulov (former deputy prime minister, head of the company in 2017-2018).

He said that when flying a Boeing 787, it is important to have both experience and master modern technologies. Since the aircraft is equipped with the most modern control systems, the pilot must fully understand its capabilities, and at the same time have experience in making the right decisions in different situations.

According to Asadjon Tursunov, a pilot makes a flight once every two to three days. On this basis, over 10 years, one pilot can account for more than a thousand flights. His personal flights also approached a thousand.

Long-haul flights on the 787 Dreamliner for a pilot Tursunov, who said that flights to the United States are of particular interest, cited this as an example.

“Flying to America is still a special experience. If you look at the map, you cross half the world and in an average of 12 hours you end up in another world. "It's like a fairy tale journey," he says.

The 787 Dreamliner will fly to Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, various countries in Europe and Asia. Pilots are not assigned to a specific route - the plane will fly wherever it is assigned.

In 2025, Uzbekistan Airways signed the largest contract in its history for the delivery of 22 more Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. The first deliveries are expected to begin in 2031.

Shuhrat Khudoykulov, Chairman of the Board of Uzbekistan Airways, said that the new Dreamliner aircraft will allow the airline to expand its international route network, increase its capacity on high-demand routes and increase flight stability.

According to Khudoykulov, preparations for the aircraft have already begun. Special attention is paid to improving the skills of technical specialists, training pilots and creating a modern training base. is being focused on.

The company will install the first Boeing 787-9 FFS - a fully functional simulator - in Central Asia at its Training Center. This will allow the airline to train pilots at its own training base, increase independence in the training process, and reduce the number of specialists sent to foreign training centers.

“The technical base, engineering potential, and pilot training system formed during the first 10 years of operating the Boeing 787 are the basis for the airline’s next stage. If the first Dreamliner became a symbol of a new era in domestic civil aviation, now the accumulated experience will serve as a foundation for developing a larger fleet and new intercontinental routes,” says Shukhrat Khudoykulov.