Nukus airport in Uzbekistan has received its first large consignment of cattle delivered by cargo aircraft from Latvia. The flight took place on Nov. 11, with Fly Khiva carrying 119 head of Angus and Auliekol breeds, totaling 39.5 tonnes, aboard a Boeing 767 freighter from Riga. The animals are to be transported onward within Uzbekistan. The shipment is significant for breeding-stock development, meat production and the use of regional airports in international air-cargo logistics.
Key Takeaways: On Nov. 11, Fly Khiva delivered 119 Angus and Auliekol cattle from Riga to Nukus aboard a Boeing 767 freighter, with a total weight of 39.5 tonnes. The animals were accepted for onward transport within Uzbekistan, and airport handling followed veterinary and biosafety requirements.
The delivery comes as Uzbekistan continues to focus on food security, agricultural modernization and improved livestock genetics. Angus and Auliekol are beef breeds, and their import can support efforts to raise herd productivity and expand quality beef output. As a landlocked country, Uzbekistan relies on a mix of road, rail and air links for such imports; airfreight can complement surface routes when speed and animal welfare are priorities. For Nukus, receiving such a shipment also tests the regional airport’s capacity to handle specialized cargo beyond routine passenger operations.
According to Uzbekistan Airports, airport staff provided aircraft servicing, unloaded the animals and handed them over for further transport. Veterinary requirements and biological-safety norms were observed throughout the process. The report did not specify the final farms or destinations for the animals. The Fly Khiva flight highlights the growing role of Uzbekistan’s regional airports in international cargo operations and marks a first experience for Nukus in receiving a large live-animal consignment by air.
The next phase is expected to involve moving the cattle to receiving farms across Uzbekistan, with continued veterinary monitoring and adaptation. Such shipments could become part of broader efforts to renew breeding stock, develop beef cattle farming and strengthen agricultural logistics chains. Officials have not announced plans for similar regular shipments, but the operation provides a reference point for future live-animal cargo at regional airports. The report also recalled a separate aviation case in which a flight from Tashkent to Karshi could not land at its destination airport because of heavy freezing fog, underlining the importance of weather readiness and flight-safety procedures.
Source: podrobno.uz