Somon Air, the largest airline currently operating in Tajikistan, has announced the signing of an agreement to purchase two Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft from UAE-based aircraft leasing and management specialist firm DAE Capital. The pair of new airplanes are due to join the carrier’s fleet sometime in 2026. The deal for the purchase of the two new aircraft was signed in Somon Air’s offices in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, by the CEO of Somon Air, Abdulkosim Valiev, and the President of DAE Capital (UAE), David Houlihan.
Founded as a direct competitor to the now largely defunct national carrier Tajik Air, Somon Air is a full member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and has been operating international flights from Tajikistan since 2008. Its current fleet consists of four Boeing 737-800 and two 737-900ER aircraft, all named after Tajik national heroes or historical figures. The carrier operates regular scheduled passenger flights between Tajikistan and Germany, the UAE, Turkey, China, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iran, India, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.
The Dushanbe-based airline has been mulling over whether to invest in two Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to replace its older 787-800s for some time. While the carrier had previously also publicly voiced interest in both Airbus and Embraer aircraft in the past, it would appear that a decision to buy the Boeing jets has now been finalized with the signing of the DAE deal.
“Thanks to the constant support and attention of the Founder of Peace and National Unity and Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, respected Emomali Rahmon, the civil aviation sector of Tajikistan is developing every year,” said Abdulkosim Valiev, CEO of Somon Air. “The signing of this agreement is part of our long-term strategy to modernize the fleet and improve the quality of service.”
“Boeing 737 MAX-8 aircraft are distinguished by high fuel efficiency, increased flight range, and improved operational characteristics, which will allow the airline to further improve the level of comfort and safety for passengers. The new Boeing 737 MAX-8 will allow us to expand our route network, increase operational efficiency, and offer our passengers modern conditions for comfortable flights, as well as increase the frequency of flights,” he added.
Following the signing of the deal for the two new airplanes, during a press conference held in London on January 29th, Habibullo Nazarzoda of Tajikistan’s Civil Aviation Agency confirmed that the agency had permitted Somon Air to seek the approvals needed to launch flights to London.
Should the carrier receive the two new aircraft in 2026, then it intends to launch weekly flights to London via Tbilisi in Georgia as soon as it can secure the appropriate landing and take-off slots at any one of several London airports that would no doubt be keen to welcome the newcomer. In the meantime, the carrier continues to operate its current network of 27 routes to 25 destinations across 13 countries.
