In a report released at a news conference in Dushanbe, Tajik Air (Tajikistan’s national air carrier) Director Parviz Shodmonzoda noted on February 1 that Tajik Air dry-leased two Airbuses from Turkiye in late December last year and hopes to resume flights.
“Proposals on resumption of flights and confirmation of the use of the leased aircraft have been sent for consideration to Prime Minister Rasoul Qohirzoda and Tajik Air’s Supervisory Board,” Tajik Air top manager told reporters.
“If the proposals are approved, the aircraft will be delivered to Tajikistan and the company will resume flights,” Shodmonzoda said, noting that it is hoped that the Supervisory Board will approve the proposals. Asked about the problem of payment of the company’s, he said: “First we need to resume flights and then the question of the company’s debts will be discussed.”
Tajik Air has not operated flights since September 2020 due to technical and financial problems.
According to Tajik Air top manager, Tajik Air’s current accounts receivable amount to 60.1 million somonis (equivalent to more than 60 million US dollars) and its current accounts payable amount to 449.3 million somonis (equivalent to 44 million US dollars).
It is to be noted that Tajik Air’s accounts payable include a US$20 million debt to Lithuanian UAB Skyroad Leasing.
In early December 2022, Tajik Air and Tajikistan’s privately owned Somon Air were exempt from paying value added tax (VAT) when importing aircraft (planes and helicopters), engines and fuels and lubricants for them into the country. The companies were reportedly exempt from paying VAT for the period until 2027.
It is to be noted that currently only one domestic air carrier, Somon Air, operates in Tajikistan’s civil air traffic market.
The national air carrier, Tajik Air, has not been in operation for already years as it does not have aircraft suitable for this.
Tajik Air (Tajikistan Airlines) 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.
