Donald Trump praised Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev as a “man of his word” as Uzbekistan Airways on September 23 signed an $8bn+ order for 14 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, with options for eight more. 

With Mirziyoyev in New York for the annual gathering of the UN General Assembly,  the US president posted on Truth Social: “Earlier this month I spoke with the Highly Respected President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

“Today I want to congratulate President Mirziyoyev on signing a GREAT Deal with Boeing! Worth over $8bn, Uzbekistan Airways is purchasing 22,787 [sic] Dreamliners. This will create over 35,000 jobs in the United States. President Mirziyoyev is a man of his word and we will continue to work together on many more items! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

The big aircraft deal means Trump can boast of a $12bn+ dealmaking success with Central Asia’s two main economies in “UN week”, given that on September 22 the US announced a $4.2bn agreement with Kazakhstan for American locomotive manufacturer Wabtec to deliver 300 freight locomotives to the Kazakh national railway company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) over the next decade.

US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick described the locomotives contract as the “largest in history,” saying it would mean approximately 11,000 new jobs in Texas and Pennsylvania.

Boeing deliveries of the widebody, long-haul aircraft to Uzbekistan are to begin in 2031, the Uzbek flag carrier said.

As part of his business programme in New York, Mirziyoyev also met Brendan Nelson, president of Boeing Global. Both sides underlined the importance of timely implementation of the contract and long-term cooperation.

Uzbekistan Airways remains the only Central Asian airline operating Boeing 787s on nonstop intercontinental routes.

The agreement for the planes forms part of the Uzbekistan Airways strategy to strengthen schedule reliability and expand its global network, linking Central Asia with Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. 

It also supports the government’s Uzbekistan–2030 development programme, which aims to position Tashkent as a leading international transit hub.

“The Boeing 787 Dreamliner family has proven to be the cornerstone of our long-haul operations,” Shukhrat Khudaykulov, chairman of Uzbekistan Airways, said. “With this new contract, we are further strengthening both our airline’s and our nation’s position as a leading aviation hub in Central Asia, while providing our passengers with greater global connectivity.”

The carrier, which operates scheduled services to more than 95 destinations, has flown the Dreamliner since 2016, when it received its first 787-8. 

The larger 787-9 will add range and seating capacity, enabling the airline to balance demand on long-haul routes and introduce new services.

Boeing, the world’s largest aerospace exporter, hailed the agreement as a continuation of its three-decade-long relationship with the Uzbek carrier. 

Brad McMullen, Boeing’s senior vice-president of commercial sales and marketing, highlighted the company’s partnership with Uzbekistan Airways, emphasising that the 787’s efficiency and flexibility will help the airline expand into new markets and strengthen global connectivity.

The 787-9, built with composite materials and advanced engines, is marketed as a benchmark for efficiency and passenger experience. 

Its design lowers fuel burn and CO₂ emissions while offering features such as a quieter cabin, reduced cabin altitude, larger windows and adaptive lighting to ease the effects of long-haul travel.