Uzbekistan Airways has secured contested airport slots at Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) from LOT Polish Airlines, enabling the carrier to launch its first direct route between Uzbekistan and Poland. The slots, granted for the summer season, allow potential weekly Monday flights connecting Tashkent to Warsaw, with operations potentially starting by end of March 2026. This regulatory decision transfers market access previously held by LOT to the Central Asian airline, marking a strategic pivot toward EU expansion amid recent cuts to Russia flights due to fuel shortages. Winning contested slots against a flag carrier like LOT represents a significant competitive achievement in the sector, highlighting rising competition for European hub access by non-EU operators.