Somon Air Awaits Boeing Delivery as Tajikistan´s Aviation Sector Grows

Tajikistan’s Somon Air expects the delivery of new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft in the next few months, in a fleet expansion designed to strengthen the airline as a growing player in Central Asia's aviation sector. The national carrier, which aims to offer new intercontinental routes, said its management met a Boeing delegation this month to build on an agreement late last year in which Somon Air selected up to 14 Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 737 MAX aircraft. During the May 15 meeting, “the parties discussed key issues related to the introduction into service of the new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, whose delivery to Tajikistan is scheduled for July–August 2026,” Dushanbe-based Somon Air said. “The expansion of the fleet with modern aircraft will enable Somon Air to improve the quality of passenger service, expand its route network, and strengthen its position in the regional civil aviation market,” the airline said. Established in 2008, Somon Air currently operates six Boeing 737 Next Generation airplanes on routes to Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, China, India, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. It has a total of 25 destinations. Tajikistan’s international routes traditionally focused on Russia, the destination for many migrants from Central Asia. According to Boeing, the new aircraft for Somon Air will deliver a 20–25% fuel-use improvement compared to the airplanes they replace and enable lower seat and maintenance costs. In another sign of commercial aviation growth in Tajikistan, Shohin Airlines, a new private airline registered in the country, said in April that it was in the final stage of acquiring four planes from the Airbus A320neo line of aircraft. Shohin Airlines, which operates helicopters for specialized flights, wants to make a significant expansion into commercial passenger traffic. It had announced a $200 million investment from a European investment fund. In 2025, Tajikistan introduced an Open Skies policy in which civil aviation authorities lifted many market restrictions. The move came two years after a 2023 study in which the World Bank said airport charges in Tajikistan were very high and that refueling costs were among the most expensive in Central Asia. The agency recommended market deregulation as a way to encourage competition, leading to better prices for passengers, more efficient service and route diversification.

European Investment Fund Commits Over $200 Million to Tajik Airline

The European investment fund CFC s.r.o. plans to invest more than $200 million in the development of Tajikistan’s private carrier Shohin Airlines. The five-year agreement follows several months of negotiations between the parties. According to Shohin Airlines, the final round of talks took place on March 10, 2026, in Dushanbe. The meeting was attended by the airline’s chief executive officer, Zafar Ahmadzoda, and the founder of CFC s.r.o., Guntars Selikovs. One factor influencing the investor’s decision was the recent improvement in Tajikistan’s sovereign credit ratings by the international agencies Moody’s and S&P Global Ratings. This development has increased foreign partners’ confidence in the country’s economic stability. The parties agreed that the investment will be directed toward expanding the airline’s fleet, developing operational capacity, and modernizing infrastructure. “The signing of the investment agreement is an important milestone in Shohin Airlines’ development,” Ahmadzoda said, noting that the deal is expected to accelerate the company’s growth and expand its route network. Selikovs stated that negotiations lasted more than six months and included meetings in Dubai and several European countries. “This allowed us to thoroughly assess the company’s business model and market potential,” he said. Shohin Airlines is a private carrier focused on developing regional aviation in Tajikistan and neighboring markets. At present, the company operates specialized helicopter flights. The next stage of development will involve fleet expansion. In the near future, the airline plans to acquire an L-410 NG, a Czech-made turboprop aircraft designed for regional transport. CFC s.r.o., a fund registered in the Czech Republic, operates across markets in Europe, the Persian Gulf, and Central Asia. Its investment strategy focuses on fast-growing industries. The agreement with Shohin Airlines could become one of the largest private investments in Tajikistan’s aviation sector in recent years and may signal growing interest among international investors in the country.