Tajikistan and Iran are launching new air routes aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation and boosting passenger traffic, according to Tajikistan’s Civil Aviation Agency.
The Civil Aviation Agency says that starting November 19, Raymond Airlines will begin regular flights on the Mashhad-Dushanbe-Mashhad route, operating twice a week.
Additionally, from November 28, Iranian carrier Kish Airlines will launch a charter flight between Kish and Dushanbe, designed to cater to both tourist and business travel between the two countries.
These new routes are the result of talks between the Director of Tajikistan's Civil Aviation Agency, Habibullo Nazarzoda, and the President of the Civil Aviation Organization (CAA) and Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development of Iran Hossein Pourfarzaneh, the Civil Aviation Agency says, noting that during the discussions, plans for additional routes were also considered, including Kish – Dushanbe, Kish – Khujand, and Shiraz – Dushanbe.
As part of its “Open Skies” policy, Tajikistan is offering a 40% discount on services at Tajik airports for international airlines, which is expected to stimulate further growth in international air traffic.
Furthermore, both sides discussed the training and professional development of aviation specialists, as well as the organization of specialized courses.
Currently, air services between the two countries are maintained by Tajikistan’s privately-owned Somon Air and Iran’s Varesh Airlines.
