DUSHANBE, January 24, Asia-Plus — Tajikistan’s State Air Company TajikAir has sent applications for leasing two relatively new western type planes with 150-170 seats to 33 aircraft leasing companies; of them 25 have replied to our applications, Olim Choriyev, director of the project implementation unit of TajikAir, told journalists in Dushanbe on January 23.
According to him, the majority of the aircraft leasing companies that replied to the TajikAir application noted that they will be able to provide aircraft for leasing in already March, “but we will not be able to train our crews to operate them in such short period.”
Choriyev noted that the best version of TajikAir would be to lease two A-320s. “As far as Boeing 737-700s or Boeing 737-800s, we still rule out the possibility of leasing this type planes,” said Choriyev, “The reason is clear – these planes are larger and therefore more expensive.”
The TajikAir project implementation unit director noted that one of European aircraft leasing companies noted that it is ready to provide two A-320s in the autumn. “We are currently conducting negotiations with this company,” said Choriyev, “We will probably be able to have trained our pilots to operate this aircraft by the autumn and be able to lease two A-320s.”
According to TajikAir, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has provided a $5 million loan to improve navigation system and further retraining air crews and technical personnel, as well as financing work of consultants from Ernst and Young Company.
