Category Archives: Somon Air

Somon Air resumes flights to Tashkent

Somon Air made this announcement:

Beginning today, January 29, 2021 Somon Air will resume its regular flights on the Dushanbe-Tashkent-Dushanbe route. The flights will be operated every Friday, departing from Dushanbe at 1030 local time and from Tashkent at 1300 local time.

Passengers traveling to Tashkent on this service must hold a certificate of negative COVID-19 results by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method issued within 72 hours prior to arrival. The certificate of a negative result must be authentic, not altered, all fields must be filled in on a computer, not by hand, and the certificate must be carried out by a medical facility accredited by the state of departure and must be issued in Russian or English; children under 12 years are excepted from this requirement. Persons with COVID-19 symptoms and a positive result of the PCR test will not be permitted to travel.

In accordance with the Decision of the Special Republican Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan, until February 1, 2021, all international flights are suspended to the UK, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Austria, Australia, the Netherlands and the Republic of South Africa. Citizens residing in these countries, as well as stateless persons and third-country nationals who have been in these countries for the last 14 days, are not allowed to enter the Republic of Uzbekistan. Citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan and stateless persons entering Uzbekistan through third countries who have been in the UK, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Austria, Australia, the Netherlands, and Republic of South Africa for the last 14 days will be placed in a temporary quarantine complex or in a corresponding hotel for a 14-day quarantine upon arrival in the Republic of Uzbekistan.

All passengers arriving at airports in the Republic of Uzbekistan are required to conduct an express test for the detection of coronavirus infection antibodies at their own expense. Passengers receiving a positive result of the rapid test will be placed in specialized medical institutions for treatment.

All passengers traveling to Dushanbe on this service must hold a certificate of negative COVID-19 results by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method issued within 72 hours prior to arrival in Tajikistan. Children under 3 years are excepted from this requirement. Foreigners who wish to travel to Dushanbe must have a permit issued by a Tajik Authority before entering Tajikistan, as well as a visa (if required). Holders of Uzbekistan passports do not need permission from the authorizing body of the Republic of Tajikistan to enter the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan.

 

Passengers with high body temperature or symptoms of COVID-19 will not to be permitted to travel. All passengers must wear face masks and disposable gloves at the airport and on board the aircraft.

Somon Air aircraft photo gallery:

Somon Air aircraft slide show:

Somon Air expands its fleet, resumes flights to Istanbul

Somon Air expands its fleet with the addition of a new Mi-8AMT helicopter, manufactured in Russia. The helicopter was produced at the Ulan-Ude Aviation manufactory of the Russian Helicopters holding. Mi-8AMT is distinguished by its reliability and versatility.

The helicopter is proven in a variety of weather conditions, such as high humidity, low temperatures, strong winds and fog. The Mi-8AMT helicopter is designed for passenger transportation, transportation of bulky cargo, and for search and rescue operations. The helicopter can carry up to 24 people, the pay load is up to 4 tons, the range is up to 800 km.


On the eve of the 96th anniversary of Tajikistan’s civil aviation, the first test flight in Tajikistan was performed by pilots and engineers of the manufactory from Dushanbe to GBAO and back. The technical capabilities of the helicopter were demonstrated in difficult mountain conditions, takeoffs and landings.

The Mi-8AMT is not the first helicopter in the Somon Air fleet. In October 2019, the airline received an Airbus H125 helicopter. Both helicopters were purchased with the aim of developing tourism in the country, popularizing nature, historical and cultural heritage of the Tajik people within the framework of the initiatives of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan. At the initiative of the Founder of Peace and National Unity — the Leader of the Nation, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, the years of 2019 to 2021 have been announced for the development of villages, tourism and folk crafts. The Mi-8AMT helicopter, which is an excellent addition to the Somon Air fleet, will also contribute to the development of tourism and business aviation within the republic.

In other news, Somon Air resumed regular flights on the Dushanbe-Istanbul-Dushanbe route on October 8, 2020. Flights will be operated every Thursday. The departure time from Dushanbe is 06:00 local time, and from Istanbul at 10:45 local time.

Somon Air aircraft photo gallery:

Somon Air suspends flights to China, launches services to Delhi

Somon Air has made this announcement:

In response to an international emergency declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) due to the global outbreak of coronavirus, and in accordance with the order of the Civil Aviation Agency under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, Somon Air has suspended all flights on its Dushanbe-Urumqi-Dushanbe route for the month of February 2020. This action is intended to protect the health of the people of the Republic of Tajikistan. 

The airline had suspended flights between Dushanbe and Urumqi on January 24, 2020 due to the New Year Celebration in China, with plans to operate these flights after the celebration. However, after the WHO declaration, it was decided to continue suspension of these flights through February.

The airline apologizes to all passengers for the inconvenience caused by these actions and advises that affected passengers may either receive a full refund for the purchase price of their tickets or they may exchange their tickets for flights operating on a later date.

Previously on December 1, 2019, Somon Air launched its new service between Dushanbe and Delhi with Boeing 737 aircraft, carrying 107 passengers on the inaugural flight. The weekly service departs Dushanbe Sundays at 3:30 a.m. local time and arrives in Delhi at 6:30 a.m. local time. The return flight departs Delhi after a 90-minute turnaround at 8:00 a.m., arriving in Dushanbe at 10:00 a.m. 

Somon Air is the national air carrier of Tajikistan, which has been successfully operating on the international market since 2008 and is the only airline in the country that joined the IATA (International Air Transport Association).

International air transportation and charter flights are the main activities of the airline. The basic airport is the Dushanbe International Airport; the international airports of Khujand and Kulyab are additionally operated.

In the fleet of the airline, there are Boeing 737-300, -800 and -900 aircrafts. All of them have been named in honor of national heroes and historical figures of Tajikistan.

Somon Air aircraft photo gallery:

Tajik Air ceases all operations, Somon Air takes over some routes

Tajik Air Boeing 737-522 LY-AWG (msn 26700) DME (OSDU). Image: 904550.

Tajik Air (Dushanbe) on January 14, 2019 ceased all operations after failing to deal with its increasing financial problems.

Top Copyright Photo: Tajik Air Boeing 737-522 LY-AWG (msn 26700) DME (OSDU). Image: 904550.

Tajik Air at the end was operating a Boeing 737-300, a Boeing 757-200 (below) and a Boeing 767-300.

Above Photo: Ercan Karakas.

Competitor Somon Air announced it had taken over the Dushanbe – Moscow (Domodedovo) route on January 3, 2019.

Somon Air released this statement:

Due to suspension of Tajik Air flights on some routes, starting from January 3, 2019 Somon Air began to carry out flights on the route Dushanbe – Moscow (Domodedovo) – Dushanbe, earlier operated by Tajik Air. Thus, in addition to its morning flights to Domodedovo Airport (departure from Dushanbe – 8:00 local time) Somon Air will also operate night flights to Domodedovo (departure from Dushanbe – 20:00). Arrival time at Domodedovo Airport – 22:25, departure time from Moscow is 00:10; arrival to Dushanbe is at 06:10 local time). All flights will be carried out on Boeing 737-800 and -900 aircraft.

Let us remind that Somon Air also operates flights to Zhukovski Airport three times a week – on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Departure from Dushanbe is at 14:30 local time.

Additionally, in the future Somon Air is planning to operate other flights being carried out by Tajik Air – from Dushanbe to Saint Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, Surgut and Samara; from Khujand to Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Surgut, Novosibirsk and Yekaterinburg; from Kulob to Moscow, as well as from Bokhtar to Moscow, Novosibirsk and Yekaterinburg.

Somon Air suspends flights to some destinations in Russia

Somon Air Boeing 737-93Y ER WL P4-TAJ (msn 40888) DXB (Paul Denton). Image: 934650.

Somon Air has issued this statement:

Somon Air regrets to inform all passengers that according to a telegram received from Rosaviatsia on March 31, 2018, flights to some destinations in the Russian Federation have been suspended.

The received telegram states that “the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation won’t provide permission to Tajik air carriers to operate on certain routes, since the Republic of Tajikistan has not confirmed Ural Airlines application to operate into the territory of Tajikistan in full from 00.01 Moscow time on April 2, 2018 flights.”

The list includes Somon Air flights such as: Dushanbe-Yekaterinburg-Dushanbe, Dushanbe-Irkutsk-Dushanbe, Dushanbe-Kazan-Dushanbe, Dushanbe-Krasnodar-Dushanbe, Dushanbe-Krasnoyarsk-Dushanbe, Dushanbe-St. Petersburg-Dushanbe, Dushanbe-Sochi-Dushanbe, Khujand-Kazan-Khujand and Khujand-St. Petersburg-Khujand. In addition, in early April, the given permission to operate the route ‘Khujand-Moscow-Khujand’ expires.

Flights such as: Dushanbe-Moscow-Dushanbe, Dushanbe-Novosibirsk-Dushanbe, Khujand-Novosibirsk-Khujand, Khujand-Krasnodar-Khujand and Kulyab-Moscow-Kulyab will be carried out according to the schedule.

 

Top Copyright Photo (all others by Somon Air): Somon Air Boeing 737-93Y ER WL P4-TAJ (msn 40888) DXB (Paul Denton). Image: 934650.

Somon Air aircraft slide show:

Somon Air acquires its first Boeing 737-900 ER

Somon Air (Dushanbe) of Tajikstan took delivery of its first new Boeing 737-900 ER (Extended Range) aircraft on September 27. A second copy will follow. The airline currently operates two Boeing 737-800s.

Somon Air becomes the first Central Asian carrier to operate an airplane featuring Boeing’s Sky Interior. The delivery is also Somon Air’s first direct purchase of a 737.

Copyright Photo: Joe G. Walker. Boeing 737-93Y ER P4-TAJ (msn 40888) arrives back at a cloudy Seattle (Boeing Field) on September 15 after a test flight.

Somon Air orders two new Boeing 737-900 ERs

Please click on the AG icon for a direct link to the Somon Air photo gallery.

Somon Air (Dushanbe) has placed an order for two Next-Generation 737-900 ERs (Extended Range). The order represents Somon Air’s first direct purchase of airplanes from Boeing. Somon Air is Tajikistan’s first private full service carrier. The airline currently operates two 737-800s and flies from Dushanbe to cities in Russia, Germany, Turkey and the UAE.