L 410 in the Uzbekistan Sky

On June 15, 2023, the management of the Omnipol Group, headquartered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, signed a contract with Uzbekistan Airways for the delivery of two L 410 UVP-E20 turboprop aircraft. Prior to the agreement, negotiations took place between the Czech Prime Minister, Petr Fiala, and the Uzbek Prime Minister, Abdulla Aripov, in Tashkent in April of this year.

The acquired aircraft will be used to increase the number of flights on domestic routes for the transportation of small groups of passengers and to promote domestic tourism within the country. These aircraft will be utilized on ultra-short runways, allowing for the expansion of the route network within the country to cities such as Zarafshan, Shakhrisabz, Andijan, which have lacked air connections for decades. Sardor Irmuchamedov, the Director of Uzbekistan Helicopters, the direct operator of L 410 in Uzbekistan, stated that "the airline plans to restore connections to cities that have not had air links for many years, including cities in the Fergana Valley, Zaamin, Jizak, Syrdarja, Sariasiya, and more."

A month later, after being received by our company in Kunovice and undergoing flight performance testing, the first L 410 aircraft embarked on a two-day journey with stops in Bulgaria, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan, before landing in the capital of the state. Several days after its registration, the aircraft completed its first flight to Samarkand.

On August 31, Uzbekistan Airways received its second L 410 UVP-E20 aircraft, which arrived exactly on Independence Day of the Republic of Uzbekistan, September 1. On this special day, the L 410 aircraft ceremoniously inaugurated a new airport in Zaamin, Jizak Region. The L 410 plane, flying from Tashkent, was traditionally welcomed with a water arch. Zaamin is a region with tremendous tourism potential, and tourism is a key driver of its development. The opening of the airport will increase employment, especially in the food industry, hospitality, transportation infrastructure, and services. The new airport spans 60 hectares, with a 1,200-meter-long asphalt runway, a control tower, and a terminal for 30 passengers. Regular L 410 flights from this airport are also planned.

"These are the first aircraft delivered to a country with tremendous potential," confirms Jiří Podpera, the president of Aircraft Industries OMNIPOL, the parent company, and adds, "Today, we are already discussing opportunities for further deliveries."

We wish our Uzbek partners successful operation of the L 410 aircraft and hope for a long-term and productive cooperation!