DUSHANBE, October 21, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Alimurod Mahmadaliyev, the director general of Tajik national air carrier, Tajik Air, told reporters today that the Tajik Air debts issue will be discussed at the government level.

According to him, government’s decree on regulation of rates and fees for ground maintenance, airport and air-navigation services that will be passed soon will set new rates for the national air carrier.

Mahmadaliyev said that the company was currently repaying its debts to the Dushanbe and Khujand airports, Tajikaeronavigatsiya (air navigation service) and Fuel-Supply Company.  The Tajik Air director general did not mention the exact amount of the debt.

“As a result of restructuring in 2008, Tajik air company was split up into seven separate companies and Tajik Air now owe money to the companies that were, until recently, part of it,” said Mahmadaliyev, “However, I can say that our financial state is normal today and despite tough competition, the air company continues retaining its leading positions in the country air service market.”

In the meantime, Ms. Lola Kenjayeva, a spokeswoman for Tajik Air, told Asia-Plus that “Tajik Air’s debts have increased due to a wrong pricing policy of Dushanbe International Airport and Tajikaeronavigatsiya.”  “In other countries, national air carriers receive certain service benefits, while our company is served equally with foreign air carriers,” she noted.

As of September 1, 2010, Tajik-Air’s debts to Fuel-Supply, Dushanbe International Airport and Tajikaeronavigatsiya reportedly amounted to 53 million somoni (equivalent to US$12 million).  

We will recall that 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.