Qanot Sharq, an Uzbek airline, is poised to become the first in Central Asia to lease Airbus A321XLR and A321LR aircraft. This move comes as part of a long-term lease agreement with Air Lease Corporation (ALC), one of the largest aircraft leasing companies globally. The deal includes three A321XLR and two A321LR planes.
The delivery of these aircraft is planned between 2026 and 2027, although dates may change according to Air Lease Corporation. AJ Abedin, Senior Vice President of Marketing at ALC, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: “We are pleased to further strengthen our partnership with Qanot Sharq and support the airline’s continued growth with the addition of five new Airbus A321neo LR/XLR aircraft.”
Nosir Abdugafarov, owner of Qanot Sharq Airlines, echoed this sentiment: “We are excited to expand our partnership with Air Lease and take a significant step forward in expanding our fleet with these new Airbus A321neo LR and XLR aircraft.”
Founded in the late 1990s as Uzbekistan’s first private airline, Qanot Sharq competes directly with Uzbekistan Airways. It has expanded its reach across Europe, Russia, Asia, and the Middle East from its hub at Tashkent International Airport. As of February 2024, its fleet includes seven aircraft: four owned Airbus A320/A321 models and three leased Airbus A330-200 jets.
Despite geopolitical tensions such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine affecting many airlines’ operations in Russia, Qanot Sharq continues flights to major Russian cities like Saint Petersburg and Moscow. The airline has also expanded its seasonal routes to include European destinations such as Prague and Madrid.
Details on cabin features for the new leased aircraft have not yet been disclosed by Qanot Sharq.
