Tajikistan’s national carrier, Tajik Air has announced new air routes connecting Dushanbe with the city of Kulob in Khatlon province and the city of Panjakent in Sughd province.
According to Tajik Air, flights from Dushanbe to Kulob will be operated three times a week: on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.
The first flight from Dushanbe to Kulob is scheduled for January 15. A ticket for this flight costs 300 somonis.
Departure from Dushanbe to Kulob is at 9:00 AM, with the return flight at 10:00 AM. The flight duration is 30 minutes.
Flights on the Dushanbe-Panjakent air route will also be operated three times a week — on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.
The first flight from Dushanbe to Panjakent is scheduled for January 14 and a ticket for this flight costs 400 somonis, with flight durations ranging from 40 to 45 minutes.
Tajik Air stated that ticket sales began yesterday.
Flights on these routes will use the Antonov-28 aircraft, capable of carrying 17 passengers and cargo with a total weight of up to 1,750 kg.
Last October, the first flight on this aircraft type was operated on the Dushanbe-Khorog route. The renewed plan includes flights three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, but operations will depend on weather conditions. In case of poor weather, flights may be rescheduled.
The ticket for the Dushanbe-Khorog flight costs 900 somonis, with flight duration from 50 to 55 minutes. Tickets are available only for the next flight and can be purchased at the Tajik Air office near Dushanbe International Airport.
Depending on demand, the airline also plans to expand local routes to Lakhsh, Garm, Ishkashim, and Ayni districts.
Meanwhile, Tajikistan's aviation authorities stated in July last year that the primary reason for the lack of air service between Dushanbe and Khorog remains the absence of an aircraft suitable for high-altitude conditions.
Habibullo Nazarzoda, Director of the Civil Aviation Agency under the Government of Tajikistan, told reporters in Dushanbe on July 24 last year that two Antonov-28s, which previously operated regular flights to Khorog, are inoperable.
The national airline, Tajik Air, has not been in operation for already years as it does not have aircraft suitable for this. Tajik Air 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.
