Tajik national air carrier, Tajik Air, is reportedly continuing to work on resuming domestic flights en route Dushanbe – Khorog – Dushanbe.
The airline, however, says it needs benefits to operate domestic flights.
“We are currently doing everything in our power to resume the flight Dushanbe – Khorog – Dushanbe,” Aziz Khairulloyev, a spokesman for Tajik Air, said.
According to him, they have already made application for spare parts for the only remaining AN-28 in the airline’s fleet, which was used to operate flights to Khorog.
“We have sent all necessary documents for benefits to the Ministry of Transport and hope for affirmative response,” Khairulloyev said.
The airline noted that Khorog was a strategically important area.
“We understand this well, and the whole issue in terms of the resumption of flights on this air route is now reduced to the technical preparation of our AN-28. This is a financial issue, and it is, of course, must be solved, but for us it is also important to ensure the safety of flights on this air route”, the source said.
Tajik Air suspended flights on this air route in October 2016.
On July 8, 2015, a group of citizens released an open letter asking President Emomali Rahmon to assist in resolving the issue of streamlining Dushanbe – Khorog – Dushanbe flights.
The appeal, which was signed by more than 140 citizens, asked the president to promote regularity of flights, improve their quality and safety, as well as establish affordable air ticket prices based on the solvency of the population, as these people use the services provided by the airport in Dushanbe.
Currently, one can get to Khorog only by road, which was last paved in the territory of the Gorno Badakhshan region back in 1980th. (News.tj/Business World Magazine)