Silk Avia

What Silk Avia does

Silk Avia is a regional low-cost airline headquartered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, operating as the country's first dedicated low-cost regional carrier under the Uzbekistan Airways group (managed by parent Uzbekistan Helicopters LLC). Established by Presidential Decree PP-412 in 2021 and commencing commercial operations on April 25, 2023, the airline operates point-to-point domestic flights connecting approximately 14 destinations across Uzbekistan — including Tashkent, Bukhara, Samarkand, Fergana, Namangan, Termez, Urgench, Nukus, Karshi, Navoi, Andijan, Kokand, Shakhrisabz, and Zaamin — plus international service to Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan. The company positions itself as an affordable alternative to rail transport with fares starting from 180,000 UZS, serving individual travelers, students (50% educational discount), and inbound tourists from Russia, Israel, Kazakhstan, and Turkey.

Silk Avia's technology stack is built on a fleet of five ATR 72-600 turboprop aircraft (70–72 seats each, powered by PW127XT engines consuming roughly 4x less fuel than comparable jets) plus LET L-410 aircraft (19 seats) for thinner regional routes. The digital product portfolio consists of a HititCS-powered mobile application (iOS and Android), a web-based Passenger Service System (PSS) for reservations and booking, online check-in available 24 hours before departure, and ancillary services such as the recently launched "Congratulations on Board" in-flight celebration. The revenue model is purely consumer-transactional: passenger ticket sales form the core stream (across six fare tiers: ODDIY, OSON, OMAD, plus Plus variants), supplemented by ancillary fees for extra baggage, seat selection, and special services.

The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer across self-service channels (website, mobile apps, airport ticket counters, contact center +998 55 501-22-12) supplemented by Uzbekistan Airways shared sales offices. Marketing leverages organic social (Facebook, Instagram, Telegram) and the brand association with the national flag carrier. Operations run approximately 100+ weekly flights carrying roughly 1,500 passengers daily, having transported over 12,000 passengers in the first month of operations alone. The business has no disclosed private equity or venture funding; growth has been funded through a mix of state backing (Uzbekistan Airways group), operating leases (Nordic Aviation Capital for two ATR 72-600), and direct aircraft purchases (Bangkok Airways and ATR factory).

Name

Silk Avia

Legal name

SILK AVIA MChJ

Website

https://silk-avia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Silk Avia is a state-backed low-cost regional airline based in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, operating point-to-point domestic flights across 14+ Uzbek cities plus Issyk-Kul using ATR 72-600 turboprops, with fares from 180,000 UZS competing against rail transport.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Airline Services

NAICS

Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation (481111)

SIC

Air Transportation, Scheduled (4512)

akta.pro primary industry

Low-Cost Regional/Short-Haul Carriers (THABABAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Turboprop Regional Airlines (THABACAJ)

Keywords

• Regional airline services
• Low-cost air travel
• Domestic flight operations
• Passenger air transport
• Turboprop regional aviation

Headquarters

HQ city

Tashkent

HQ country

Uzbekistan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Passenger Ticket Sales: Core revenue stream from domestic and regional passenger flights. The airline operates on a low-cost carrier model with three fare tiers (ODDIY, OSON, OMAD) offering different levels of flexibility and baggage allowances.
2. Ancillary Services: Revenue from additional services including extra baggage (beyond included allowance), seat selection, special services like 'Congratulations on Board' in-flight celebrations, and other optional add-ons.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Silk Avia is a regional low-cost airline providing affordable domestic air transportation across Uzbekistan using fuel-efficient ATR 72-600 turboprop aircraft (70-72 seats) and LET L-410 aircraft (19 seats). The airline operates point-to-point routes connecting major Uzbek cities including Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Fergana, and 10+ other destinations, with limited international service to Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan. It offers tiered fares (ODDIY, OSON, OMAD), online booking, mobile check-in, and ancillary services such as baggage, seat selection, and a 'Congratulations on Board' celebration service.

Product overview

Silk Avia is a regional low-cost airline operating under the Uzbekistan Airways group, offering domestic and limited international flights within Uzbekistan and to neighboring countries. The core product is the airline's regional flight operations using ATR 72-600 and LET L-410 aircraft. The digital product portfolio includes a consumer-facing mobile application (iOS/Android), a web-based online booking and reservation system (IBE), and an online check-in module. Ancillary services include the 'Congratulations on Board' in-flight celebration service and flight certificate issuance. All digital services are accessible through the corporate website silk-avia.com and via the contact center at +998 55 501-22-12.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Silk Avia Mobile Application Official mobile app for Silk Avia airline enabling ticket booking, flight management, online check-in, and real-time flight information on iOS and Android platforms for individual passengers.
• Online Booking System (IBE)

Quantifiable outcome

• Flight times as short as 35 minutes (Tashkent-Kokand)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Bangkok AirwayscoreTechnology or Integration · 21 March 2023Silk Avia acquired three ATR 72-600 aircraft (2019 model year, 3 years old) from Bangkok Airways through Jetcraft Commercial Limited broker. Aircraft transferred with full technical inspection, C-check completion, and export certificates.
• ATR (Avions de Transport Régional)coreTechnology or Integration · 23 November 2022Silk Avia signed agreement with Franco-Italian aircraft manufacturer ATR to purchase five ATR 72-600 aircraft (three directly from manufacturer, two via lessor). Also signed Global Maintenance Agreement (GMA) covering 5 years of technical support. Aircraft equipped with new generation PW127XT engines providing 20% maintenance cost reduction and 3% fuel efficiency improvement.
• Uzbekistan AirportscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilk Avia operates within Uzbekistan Airports network, utilizing airport infrastructure, terminal facilities, and ground handling services across Uzbek airports. Parent organizational relationship with shared management and sales network.
• Uzbekistan AirwayscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilk Avia is part of Uzbekistan Airways Group (transferred to Uzbekistan Helicopters management in 2023). Benefits include shared sales offices, contact center integration, and maintenance support through Uzbekistan Airways Technics.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Uzbekistan Airways: State-owned national carrier and parent group of Silk Avia (via Uzbekistan Helicopters); operates full-service jet services on trunk domestic and international routes that overlap with Silk Avia's network but with a different cost structure.
• IndiGo: India's largest LCC and global benchmark for low-cost carrier operations including ATR turboprop regional flying; while geographically distant, it is the archetypal ATR-72 LCC operator against which Silk Avia's unit-economics and ancillary strategy are best benchmarked.
• Air Astana: Kazakhstan's flag carrier operating a hybrid full-service/LCC model (with FlyArystan); competes with Silk Avia on cross-border Central Asian routes and provides a regional benchmark for hybrid airline economics.

Regional players

• Air Manas: Kyrgyz carrier serving Bishkek/Manas with regional CIS routes; relevant peer given Silk Avia's first international destination is Issyk-Kul (Kyrgyzstan) and shared Central Asian low-cost market dynamics.
• Somon Air: Tajikistan's principal carrier operating scheduled regional flights across Central Asia; comparable in scale, geography, and mission (connecting a Central Asian country with limited surface infrastructure) to Silk Avia.

Direct peers

• SCAT Airlines: Kazakhstan-based carrier operating a mix of regional and trunk routes including turboprop services, providing comparable regional connectivity and serving as a Central Asian benchmark for fleet utilization and route economics.
• Centrum Air: Uzbekistan-headquartered low-cost carrier that began operations in 2024, directly competing with Silk Avia on Uzbek domestic routes using a similar price-disruptive LCC model.
• FlyArystan: LCC subsidiary of Air Astana in Kazakhstan, serving domestic and regional CIS routes with a comparable low-cost playbook (ancillary revenue, tiered fares, single-class cabin) — a near analog of Silk Avia's model in a neighboring market.
• Buta Airways: Azerbaijan's low-cost subsidiary of AZAL, operating a regional point-to-point model with tiered fares and ancillary revenue — structurally the closest LCC analog to Silk Avia in the post-Soviet/CIS space.
• Qanot Sharq: Uzbek private airline operating charter and scheduled services from Tashkent; competes for similar corporate and leisure traffic on regional Uzbek routes and shares the same regulatory and infrastructure backdrop.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/silkavia.live
• Facebookfacebook.com/silkavia.live
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/silkavia

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Silk Avia