The Eurasian Development Bank is working on providing financing of $100 million to the limited liability company "Somon Air" for the acquisition of two Boeing 737 aircraft, Asia Plus reports.
"In accordance with the airline's plan to expand its fleet, two aircraft of this type are expected to be purchased by the airline in 2024," the EDB statement said.
It is noted that "Somon Air" currently operates its main passenger flights on six Boeing 737 family aircraft of various modifications.
Meanwhile, the press service of "Somon Air" stated that the airline has plans for expansion both in terms of the fleet and the geographical scope of flights according to its development strategy.
"At present, we are exploring opportunities for acquiring aircraft using financial and operational leasing systems. We are closely cooperating with the Eurasian Development Bank on the implementation of the project to acquire two Boeing 737 aircraft. We are grateful to the EDB for their trust and cooperation," emphasized the airline's press service.
The flight geography will include over 20 countries worldwide, including China, the United States, Canada, Egypt, and other countries.
By 2026, the airline "Somon Air" plans to expand its flight geography through new routes:
From Khujand in 2024 - to Jeddah, Dubai, Urumqi, and Istanbul;
From Dushanbe:
In 2024 - to Antalya, Riyadh, Sharm El Sheikh,
In 2025 - to Seoul, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Guangzhou, Tbilisi, Mashhad, Paris, Bangkok,
In 2026 - to New York, London, Beijing, Madrid, Vienna, Tel Aviv, Kiev, Milan, Toronto, Warsaw.
"Somon Air" is the only operating airline in Tajikistan.
The state carrier, "Tajik Air," is currently not operating due to financial difficulties.
Since 2020, there has been an increase in the passenger traffic of "Somon Air," which in 2023 (782 thousand people) exceeded the pre-COVID year of 2019 (676 thousand people).
In the passenger air transport market of Tajikistan, 10 foreign airlines are also operating, including five Russian carriers - "Yut Air," "Ural Airlines," "Severny Veter," "Sibir-S7," "Yamal," as well as airlines from Uzbekistan, the UAE, Turkey, and Iran.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
February 7, 2024