The Ministry of Transport has suggested Airbus International open a regional center in Uzbekistan, as reported by the department's press service.

The Deputy Head of the Ministry of Transport, Jasurbek Choriev, discussed bilateral cooperation matters with Jacques Garrigues, Vice President of Airbus International for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, including the acquisition of new modern aircraft for the development of civil aviation.

Flights to the Sokh district in the Fergana region may be initiated on new regional ATR-42 turboprop aircraft.

The deputy minister also proposed that the Airbus International representative organize a two-year training program for students of the Tashkent State Transport University with the involvement of specialists from the foreign company and set up specialized simulators for training personnel in aviation.

Currently, the regional airline Silk Avia operates ATR 72−600 turboprop aircraft for domestic flights. The ATR-42 is the base model from which the longer version, the ATR 72, was developed.