Tajikistan’s national air carrier, Tajik Air, has resumed flights from Dushanbe to the southern city of Kulob.
Tajik Air operated the first flight on this air route on January 15. Note that this was the first flight on this route since independence.
To operate this flight, Tajik Air used the Antonov-28, capable of carrying 17 passengers and cargo with a total weight of up to 1,750 kg.
The plane departed from the Dushanbe airport at 10:20 am and from the Kulob airport at 10:50 am. The flight duration is 30 minutes.
A ticket for this flight costs 300 somonis.
According to Tajik Air, flights from Dushanbe to Kulob will be operated three times a week: on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.
Meanwhile, Tajik Air also plans to resume flights on the Dushanbe-Panjakent air route. The first flight on this air route was scheduled for was also for January 1but was postponed until January 16 due to weather conditions.
Flights on the Dushanbe-Panjakent air route will also be operated three times a week — on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.
A ticket for this flight costs 400 somonis, with flight durations ranging from 40 to 45 minutes.
Depending on demand, the national airline also plans to expand local routes to Lakhsh, Gharm, Ishkashim, and Ayni districts.
Last October, the first flight on the Antonov-28 was operated on the Dushanbe-Khorog route. The renewed plan includes flights three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, but operations will depend on weather conditions. In case of poor weather, flights may be rescheduled.
The ticket for the Dushanbe-Khorog flight costs 900 somonis, with flight duration from 50 to 55 minutes. Tickets are available only for the next flight and can be purchased at the Tajik Air office near Dushanbe International Airport.
Meanwhile, Tajikistan's aviation authorities stated in July last year that the primary reason for the lack of air service between Dushanbe and Khorog remains the absence of an aircraft suitable for high-altitude conditions.
Habibullo Nazarzoda, Director of the Civil Aviation Agency under the Government of Tajikistan, told reporters in Dushanbe on July 24 last year that two Antonov-28s, which previously operated regular flights to Khorog, are inoperable.
The national airline, Tajik Air, has not been in operation for already years as it does not have aircraft suitable for this. Tajik Air has its main hub at the Dushanbe airport, and it retains a secondary focus point at the Khujand airport.
The company started operations on September 3, 1924 as Tajik Aviation. Its first route was Bukhara to Dushanbe, served by Junkers F-13 aircraft. It is the sixth oldest airline still in operation. Until 2008, Tajik Air had an absolute monopoly in Tajikistan’s air transport, owning all planes, airports, and airport and flight services. As a result of restructuring, Tajik Air was split up into several separate companies.
