DUSHANBE, April 22, 2011, Asia-Plus — Over the first three months of this year, Tajik Air’s net profit has been estimated at 2.6 million U.S dollars, which is five times more than in the same period last year, the Tajik Air director general Muzaffar Ishoqov announced at a news conference in Dushanbe on April 21.
“Over the report period passenger load on international routes has increased by nearly 20 percent and despite the fact that the number of flights has considerably reduced this year, we have managed to get a good profit,” Ishoqov said.
Touching upon the issue of unprofitable flights, the Tajik Air top manager noted that practically all domestic flights were unprofitable. “Every month, the company loses on average US$150,000 because of the domestic flights,” he said.
Ishoqov attributes inefficiency of domestic routes to increasing prices for fuel as well as airport and navigation services. “If our proposal to lower airport and navigation fees for domestic routes is endorsed, we will be able to resume flights to Qurghon Teppa, Kulob and Panjakent as well as to lower passenger fares,” he added.
Tajik national air carrier reportedly intends to launch new international air routes until the end of the year – to Bangkok (Thailand), Dubai (the United Arab Emirates) and Simferopol (Ukraine).
Over the first three months of this year, Tajik Air has carried 111,880 passengers, which is 31 percent of the air traffic for the report period and 9.1 percent lower than in the same period last year.
Tajik Air (Tajikistan Airlines) is the national airline of Tajikistan. It is based in Dushanbe Airport, and retains a secondary focus point at Khujand Airport. The company serves 21 destinations.
The state unitary enterprise, Tajik Air, was reorganized into open joint-tock company last autumn. Reorganization of Tajik Air into open joint-stock company was the last stage of restructuring of the Tajik national air carrier.
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 (state unitary enterprises): Tajik Air; Dushanbe International Airport, Khujand International Airport; Kulob International Airport; Qurghon Teppa International Airport, Fuel Supply Company, Tajikaeronavigatsiya (air navigation); and In-flight Meals.
