Air traffic between the Russian Federationand Tajikistanrestored, the official representative of the Ministry of Transport informed TASS.
"Air traffic between Russiaand Tajikistan restored, as aeronautical authorities of Tajikistanhave agreed on airline flights." Yamal will fly from the Zhukovsky airport to Dushanbe and Khujand. Negotiations will continue on December 22nd ”, he said.
TASS previously reported referring to Andrei Dubov, Commercial Director, Yamal Airlines, that his air company received permission to carry out charter flights to Dushanbe at 05:00 am Moscow time on December 22, 2016.
Less than an hour before 00:00 am Moscowtime of December 22nd, the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation announced the suspension of air links with Tajikistan. In addition, within the environment ministry reported on the possibility of suspending air traffic, but later relented department's position, and the Ministry of Transport announced the continuation of negotiations.
The threat of suspension of air traffic on the backdrop of the next stage of the proceedings by the number of designated carriers between the Russian Federation and Tajikistan. On the eve of the republic's aviation authorities have not agreed on the airline "Yamal" departure from Zhukovsky airport in Khujand. According to them, the flights "Yamal" would violate parity in the number of designated carriers to perform flights between Russiaand Tajikistan. In response, the Russian Ministry of Transport said that the refusal of Tajik aviation authorities is not competent.
History of this story
In autumn 2016, Tajik aviation authorities refused to agree to Russian airlines regarding their flights to/from Zhukovsky.
Then Tajikistanconsidered that Zhukovsky belongs to the Moscowairports and thus falls within the scope of bilateral agreements on the number of designated carriers. Under Russian law, Zhukovsky added to Ramensky aviation hub (Moscow Region).
Flights between the two countries are operated by Tajikistan’s Tajik Air and Somon Air and Russia’s Ural Airlines, S7 Airlines and UTair. Ural Airlines carries out flights from Moscow(including Zhukovsky) to Dushanbe, six times a week, flying to Khujand and Kulyab seven times a week. From Mposcow’s Domodedovo, S7 flies to Hudzhand seven times a week, to Dushanbe three times a week and Kulyab twice a week. UTair carries seven flights a week from Moscow to Dushanbe.