Uzbekistan Airways eyes A320neo jets for B757 replacement

Uzbekistan Airways (HY, Tashkent Yuzhny) is studying the A320neo family of jets as potential replacements for its ageing fleet of six B757-200s.

An airline source, who spoke to Russia's Sputnik news on condition of anonymity, said the issue of fleet renewal has become urgent given company policy not to operate passenger aircraft older than twenty years of age.

As such, the B757s, which the ch-aviation aircraft database shows average 16.8 years of age, will have to be replaced by 2020-2021. The Airbus Industrie (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) twinjet is a strong contender given the state-backed carrier's positive experience with its fleet of ten A320-200s, the source added.

Uzbekistan Airways uses its B757s on domestic flights as well as international services to India, Israel, Belarus, France, Italy, South Korea, Singapore, Russia, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Latvia, and Thailand.

On withdrawal, the B757s will likely be converted to freighters as was the case with two B767-300(ER)s which were converted to B767-300(F)s with ST Aerospace Services Co. (SASCO) Aircraft in Singapore last year.

Uzbekistan Airways is also expecting a pair of B787-8s - msn 38363 and 38364 - in June and August of next year.