DUSHANBE, January 23, 2012, Asia-Plus – Dushanbe International Airport plans to raise the service fee rate for local and foreign air companies from 3 to 5 percent, the Dushanbe airport director Rustam Kholiqov announced at a news conference in Душанбе on January 23.

According to him, the service fee hike results mainly from the rising cost of petroleum and oil products.

“The petroleum and oil product prices increased considerably in 2011 but we did not raise the service fee last year,” said the airport director.  We will raise the service fee rate from 3 to 5 percent in order to cover fuel expenses.”

Meanwhile, Dushanbe International Airport reportedly provided discounts last year to support the national air carrier, Tajik Air.  “The total amount of discounts the Dushanbe airport offered in 2011 was 9.7 million U.S. dollars, including more than a US$6.6 million discount provided to Tajik Air,” Kholiqov said.