DUSHANBE, February 2, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- The antimonopoly agency states that Tajik national air carrier has raised individual passenger fares on the routes from Dushanbe to Moscow and Sochi illegally.

Yelena Rahimova, the head of the information, protocol and international cooperation department of the Antimonopoly Agency under the Government of Tajikistan, says Tajik Air was put on the register of dominants as it accounts for 34 percent of international flights.  “Before introducing new passenger fares the company must coordinate them with the antimonopoly commission, but they did not do so,” said Rahimova, “Thereby they ignored the country’s law on competition and restriction of monopolist activity.”

According to her, the antimonopoly commission has sent a letter to Tajik Air with demand to clarify the reason for raising passenger fares.

In the meantime, the Tajik Air representatives say they did not violate the law because the company acted in accordance with the government’s decree of 2005, which says that new fares for international routes may be set with coordination with the antimonopoly agency.  “Under this decree, Tajik Air has the right to determine, set and use flexible rates on international routes, depending on seasonal prevalence and passenger traffic,” said the Tajik Air representative, “In the meantime, introduction of new fares for domestic routes must be coordinated with the antimonopoly agency.”

The antimonopoly agency, however, says this decree expired in 2009, when Tajik air was put on the register of dominants.

We will recall that Tajikistan’s air carriers, Tajik Air and Somon Air, have raised passenger fares on flights to Moscow by 20 percent.

The Tajik national air carrier, Tajik Air, said the new rates went into effect on January 29 on the route from Dushanbe to Moscow.  A ticket for the flight, previously €250.00, now costs €300.00.  The introduction of the new rate is connected with a seasonal decrease in passenger traffic and rise in fuel air prices.  The cost of passenger fare from Moscow to Dushanbe was lowered from €280.00 to €200.00.

Passenger fares on flights to Sochi were raised from €220.00 to €260.00, while the cost of passenger fare from Sochi to Dushanbe was lowered from €220.00 to €180.00.

Somon Air has also raised passenger fares on flights to Moscow – from €240.00 to €300.00.  Somon Air has raised the cost of passenger fare from Moscow to Dushanbe as well.  According to the Somon Air representatives, passenger traffic from Moscow to Dushanbe has decreased and the company is forced to raise passenger fares in order to cover its expanses on this flight.  Besides, Moscow has raised fees for airport services.

It is to be noted that Tajik labor migrants usually travel to Russia in the winter and early spring, and therefore demand for tickets on the route from Dushanbe to Moscow and other Russian cities increases during this season.