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Silk Road Cargo Business (IATA: S9) is Uzbekistan's first privately owned cargo airline, established in 2011 in Tashkent. The airline operates Airbus A300-600F freighters and has supported dedicated cargo services between mainland China and Southeast Asia through ACMI leases and wet-lease arrangements with partners including Hong Kong-based Hub Airways.
Key facts about Silk Road Cargo Business and its role in Uzbekistan's air cargo market.
Silk Road Cargo Business has supported cargo services between mainland China and Southeast Asia through ACMI leases.
| Route | Aircraft | Operator | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mainland China ⇄ Southeast Asia (cargo services) | Airbus A300-600F (VQ-BNW) | Hub Airways (Hong Kong) — wet-leased from Silk Road Cargo Business | ACMI lease Q4 2018 |
| Tashkent (TAS) ⇄ Istanbul (IST) | Airbus A300-600F | Silk Road Cargo Business | Historical (until Dec 2017) |
| Tashkent (TAS) ⇄ Dubai (DWC), New Delhi (DEL) | Airbus A300-600F | Silk Road Cargo Business | Historical (2011–2017) |
The airline's China-related activity was primarily through the ACMI lease of its A300-600F to Hub Airways for mainland China–Southeast Asia cargo services. The airline does not currently operate scheduled services to or from mainland China. For current China–Central Asia air cargo requirements, please contact Goodhope Freight.
Silk Road Cargo Business operates a single Airbus A300-600F freighter, a wide-body twin-engine aircraft well-suited to regional and medium-haul cargo operations.
| Aircraft | Type | In service | Registration | Max Payload | Cargo Volume | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A300-600F | Dedicated wide-body freighter | 1 | VQ-BNW (msn 733) | ~48 tonnes | ~380 m³ | Built 1994, converted to freighter by China Southern Airlines in 2003. Wet-leased to Hub Airways from Q4 2018 for mainland China–Southeast Asia cargo operations. |
| Ilyushin Il-76 (historical) | Dedicated freighter | Retired | [To be confirmed] | ~48 tonnes | [To be confirmed] | Operated at founding in 2011; no longer in fleet |
| Airbus A300-600F (historical) | Dedicated freighter | Leased out | VP-BSK / 5A-ONS | ~48 tonnes | [To be confirmed] | Operated briefly in 2016; later sold to Afriqiyah Airways (Libya) |
* The Airbus A300-600F offers a maximum payload of approximately 48 tonnes with a cargo volume of approximately 380 m³. The aircraft's wide-body configuration makes it suitable for carrying oversized cargo, palletised shipments and general freight on regional and medium-haul routes. The airline's fleet has been significantly reduced since its founding, with the A300-600F being the only aircraft in the fleet at the time of its ACMI lease to Hub Airways.
Silk Road Cargo Business operated cargo services across Central Asia, the Middle East and South Asia before ceasing scheduled operations.
The airline's historical network was focused on regional routes connecting Tashkent with key markets in the Middle East, South Asia and Central Asia. Its China-related activity was conducted through the ACMI lease of its A300-600F to Hub Airways for mainland China–Southeast Asia cargo services. The airline is now working toward a commercial relaunch with scheduled domestic cargo services and charter flights based out of Tashkent.
Understanding Silk Road Cargo Business's role in the Central Asian air cargo market and how Goodhope Freight can assist.
Silk Road Cargo Business holds a unique place in Uzbekistan's aviation history as the country's first privately owned cargo airline, breaking the state monopoly held by Uzbekistan Airways when it was established in 2011. The airline's founding reflected a period of gradual liberalisation in Uzbekistan's commercial aviation sector, and its entry into the market was significant for a country where air cargo had previously been dominated by a single state-run entity.
ACMI leasing as a market entry strategy. The airline's most notable China-related activity was its ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance) wet-lease arrangement with Hong Kong-based Hub Airways, a subsidiary of Janco Holdings. Under this agreement, Silk Road Cargo Business's Airbus A300-600F was deployed to support dedicated cargo flights focused on services between mainland China and Southeast Asia. This arrangement allowed the airline to generate revenue from its asset while Hub Airways gained access to freighter capacity without the capital expenditure of acquiring its own aircraft. For Chinese shippers, this arrangement provided additional freighter capacity on the China–Southeast Asia lane during a period of growing e-commerce and trade demand.
A300-600F — a capable regional freighter. The Airbus A300-600F operated by Silk Road Cargo Business is a wide-body twin-engine freighter capable of carrying approximately 48 tonnes of payload with a cargo volume of approximately 380 m³. The aircraft's wide-body configuration accommodates standard pallets and containers, making it suitable for general cargo, oversized shipments and palletised freight. The specific aircraft (VQ-BNW, msn 733) was built in 1994 and converted to freighter configuration by China Southern Airlines in 2003 — a notable detail that links the aircraft's history directly to the Chinese aviation industry.
Current status and relaunch efforts. Silk Road Cargo Business effectively ceased scheduled operations during the 2018–2024 period. However, the airline is now actively working toward a commercial relaunch with scheduled domestic cargo services and charter flights based out of Tashkent Islam Karimov International Airport (TAS). The relaunch would position the airline as a regional freighter operator serving Uzbekistan's domestic cargo market and potentially connecting to international destinations in Central Asia, the Middle East and beyond. As Uzbekistan continues to develop its role as a logistics hub between Asia and Europe, Silk Road Cargo Business's revival would add private-sector capacity to a market that remains largely dominated by state-owned carriers.
For Chinese exporters and freight forwarders, Silk Road Cargo Business represents a potential partner for Central Asian cargo services once its relaunch is complete. In the meantime, Goodhope Freight can arrange alternative air freight solutions through active carriers serving the Uzbekistan and Central Asia markets, ensuring reliable connectivity for China-origin cargo.
Historical contact details for Silk Road Cargo Business in Tashkent.
Address: 10, Loyiha G-44 Street, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Alternate Address: 10, Street Bunyod, Chilanzar Area, Tashkent Region, Uzbekistan
Phone: +998 78 150 32 82
Website: www.silkroadcargo.uz (historical)
Airport: Tashkent Islam Karimov International Airport (TAS / UTTT)
Location: Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Hub Role: Primary operating base for domestic cargo and charter flights
Status: Active for relaunch preparation
Ownership: Privately held; linked to the family of Uzbekistan's late first president, Islam Karimov
Founder: Believed to have been founded by Timur Tillyaev, Karimov's son-in-law
Business Focus: Primarily involved in carrying household appliances and clothing from Turkey and the UAE
Current Phase: Working toward commercial relaunch
For current China–Central Asia cargo requirements, please contact Goodhope Freight. We can arrange alternative routing through active carriers serving the region.
How Goodhope Freight can assist with China–Central Asia cargo requirements while Silk Road Cargo Business prepares for relaunch.