Uzbekistan Airways rented Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov's Airbus 340 for use as the official aircraft of the President of Uzbekistan for long-haul flights, the company said in a statement.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev used this plane in September to fly to New York for the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly, as well as during his recent trip to the CIS summit in Sochi.
The government instructed Uzbekistan Airways to study several aircraft rental options. Airbus 340 (registration number M-IABU), proposed by the aircraft's operator GlobalJet, has been chosen for its comfort, safety and technical reliability.
"Uzbekistan Airways entered into a rental contract with the aircraft owner Klaret Aviation Limited under commercial terms at current market value," the statement added.
Uzbekistan Airways on behalf of the Government of Uzbekistan expressed gratitude to Alisher Usmanov for his consent to lease the aircraft for use by the President in line with the contract, the statement concluded.
