KULOB, December 25, 2008, Asia-Plus — There is triple-weekly aerial communication service between Kulob and Moscow and each flight currently carries on average some 50-60 passengers (some 200 people in total), according to the Kulob international airport. In the meantime, Russia type aircraft TU-154, which is used to operate flights from Kulob to Moscow, is capable to carry some 170 passengers.
The number of flights is not reduced because from Moscow planes return completely filled, the source at the Kulob international airport said. However, he added that rumors about mass return of Tajik labor migrants from Russia have been exaggerated.
“Indeed, there are some problems with payment of wages of labor migrants and some of them have bee compelled to go on vacation,” said the source, “However, we have not yet experienced any mass return of them home. It is usual that labor migrants return home in late autumn and early winter.”
He further added that in 2009, Russia’s air carrier, Ural Airlines, operating flights from Kulob to Moscow, would operate the first flight to Moscow on January 4, while it had been scheduled for January 14. “The flight is launched ahead of schedule in order to manage to carry all those interested to Moscow before the season (March),” the source said, noting that many people are buying tickets for this flight.
In the meantime, the air route from Kulob to Yekaterinburg has been temporarily closed after several flights because passenger traffic on this air route is low.
