Uzbekistan Airways to Launch International IPO by Late 2026
Up to 20% of shares in the national carrier Uzbekistan Airways are scheduled to be floated on the international stock market by the end of 2026. The preparation for this initial public offering (IPO) was the central focus of a recent strategic presentation reviewed by the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
To facilitate the upcoming listing the airline is currently undergoing a comprehensive transformation programme developed in partnership with the global investment firm Franklin Templeton. The strategic initiative involves 115 specific measures designed to enhance management efficiency, improve financial performance and align corporate operations with international standards.
Financial experts estimate that implementing these structural changes will boost the annual operating profit of Uzbekistan Airways by $120 mln. Furthermore the restructuring is projected to increase the overall market value of the company from $1.6 bn to $2.3 bn.
Tourism boom and fleet expansion
The presidential presentation also addressed the broader development of the aviation sector in response to a significant surge in regional tourism. Nearly 5.5 mln foreign tourists have visited Uzbekistan since the start of the year. This figure represents a 27.5% increase compared to the same period during the previous year.
In light of this growing passenger demand the government has outlined new operational objectives. These directives focus on expanding the national aviation fleet and actively developing the airline’s international route network to accommodate the influx of visitors.
