The first two of three aircraft has been delivered with a third due imminently.

Jetcraft Commercial has delivered the first two of three ATR72-600s to Uzbekistan Airports, where they will be operated by its recently launched community airline Silk Avia.

UK72602 arrived first on March 8, with UK72601 arriving March 21. The third – UK72603 – is due to arrive by the end of April 2023, though at the time of going to press has not yet been delivered.

All three arrivals were previously operated by Bangkok Airways, and will now fly regional routes across Uzbekistan, using Tashkent as a hub.

Rano Dzhuraeva, Chairman of the Board of Uzbekistan Airports, said: “We made an evaluation on which aircraft would provide essential cross-country links and we know that regional turboprops, like the ATR72-600, are the right fit for us. By expanding our fleet, we’re ensuring we can meet the rising demand for domestic and regional travel. These aircraft will open up new point-to-point opportunities and support the growth in the country and its importance as a connecting hub in Central Asia.”