DUSHANBE, July 13, Asia-Plus – In January-June 2006, Tajik State Air Company “Tojikiston” have convey 207,200 passengers, which is 17.1 percent fewer compared to the same period of the last year, Nazira Davlatova, a spokeswoman for Tajik air carrier, said.
She has named competition on international air lines as one of the main factors contributing to reduction in numbers of passengers conveyed by “Tojikiston” company.
“Lately, passengers prefer use services offered by foreign air companies conducting flights to our country,” Ms. Davlatova said, noting that such a situation has resulted from rising fuel prices and the fact that many planes of Tajik air company are outliving their service life.
Over the same six-month period, 59,450 passengers have been conveyed by Tajik air carrier on the domestic lines, which is 28,800 passengers fewer than in January-June last year.
Planes of Tajik air carrier have shipped 1,372 tons of cargoes, including 100 tons of farm produce, in January-June this year. “It is 30.7 percent fewer compared to the first half-year of 2005,” the air carrier spokeswoman said. She also noted that cargo shipments rates remained high for consignees despite provided 50-percent discounts.
“Non-fulfillment of targets on shipment of cargoes is connected with lack of demand,” said the Asia-Plus interlocutor, “If until recent time, cargoes from
Urumqi
(
China
) and Sharja (
United Arab Emirates
) were shipped by air, now entrepreneurs and tourists prefer to ship their cargoes by automotive transportation or rail.”
