DUSHANBE, October 5, 2012, Asia-Plus – British specialist Lloyd Paxton has been appointed chief executive of Tajikistan’s private airline, Somon Air, recently, replacing Alisher Rustamov.
As it turned out, appointment of foreign national as head of Tajik airline is contrary to Tajikistan’s Aviation Code. Under the provisions of Tajikistan’s Aviation Code, establishment of an aviation enterprise with participation of foreign capital in Tajikistan is permitted on condition that it will be headed by a Tajik national.
Under Article 54 of the Aviation Code, establishment of an aviation enterprise with participation of foreign capital in Tajikistan is permitted on conditions that its head is a Tajik national, a share of foreign companies in the enterprise’s authorized capital is not more than 49 percent, and non-Tajikistan nationals must not be more than a third of its managers.
Local lawyers say that it cannot be ruled out that Mr. Lloyd Paxton has been put on job with Somon Air as adviser.
However, press release issued by Somon Air notes that Mr. Lloyd Paxton has been appointed chief executive of Somon Air.
Mr. Lloyd Paxton is a former CEO for Air Astana (Kazakhstan) and Malev (Hungary). Before heading up those airlines, he worked for British Airways as chief for Russian routes.
At Air Astana, he was successful in expanding that airline”s network. In the summer of 2007 he became CEO of Malev, but resigned 2 months later.
As chief executive of Somon Air, Mr. Paxton will be responsible for changing and developing all aspects of the airline so as to achieve international standards throughout its operations and will be supported by five other expatriate directors who are yet to be appointed, press release issued by Somon Air said.
Somon Air is an airline based in Dushanbe. It is Tajikistan”s first private airline. Somon Air is also the first airline in Tajikistan to launch an online booking system.
The airline uses the Boeing 737 in its fleet. Somon Air operates the following types as of August 2012: two Boeing 737-300s; two Boeing 737-800s; and two Boeing 7373-900ERs.
Since its formation, Somon Air has mainly aimed its passenger service at Eastern Europe and other locations. Most flights to international locations operate from Dushanbe. In line with its strategic policy, Somon Air is gradually expanding the geographical coverage of its flights. At present, the company operates a total of eighteen routes. Somon Air now operates to the following destinations: China (Urumqi); Germany (Frankfurt am Main); Kazakhstan (Almaty); Russia (Irkutsk, Khanty-Mansisysk, Kazan, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Moscow, Orenburg, St. Petersburg, Sochi, Nizhnevartovsk, Novosibirsk, Tuymen and Yekaterinburg); Saudi Arabia (Jeddah); Tajikistan (Khujand); Turkey (Istanbul); Ukraine (Simferopol, Kyiv); and the United Arab Emirates (Dubai).
