DUSHANBE, August 4, 2010, Asia-Plus — The source at Dushanbe International Airport says the airport will give a 50-percent discount on its services to local air carriers, Tajik Air and Somon Air.
According to him, they are currently discussing some aspects with the air carriers in order to bring this decision into compliance with the companies’ accounts. The decision on offering discount has been made following ruling by the Antimonopoly Agency on lowering airport services fees.
In the meantime, Saydali Zardakov, the head of the natural monopolies department within the Antimonopoly Agency, told Asia-Plus Wednesday afternoon that the letter sent to the Dushanbe airport stipulates giving discount to all air carriers that are served by the airport.
“As far as Tajik Air and Somon Air are concerned, the 50-percent discount is given to these carriers by government’s order,” said Zardakov, “All this is done in order to promote lowering individual air fares, attract passengers and increase passenger traffic, as well as attract tourists and increase the number of charter flights.”
We will recall that in a report released at a news conference in Dushanbe, the Dushanbe International Airport director general Rustam Kholiqov revealed on July 22 that a 50-percent discount on airports’ services will be given to Tajik Air starting on August 1 this year. It is done in order to support the national air carrier, which now owes 25 million somoni to the Dushanbe airport, he noted.
According to the data provided by Dushanbe International Airport, servicing an aircraft weighing 100 tons, Tupolev-154 for instance, at the Dushanbe airport now costs 11,400 U.S. dollars, including takeoff/landing fee – US$1,500 U.S. dollars, providing aviation safety – US$500, use of air terminal – US$2,800, aircraft towing – US$380, passenger boarding bridge – US$400, crew delivery – US$50, and so forth.
We will recall that 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, including air carrier, several airports, fuel provider, and air navigation company.
