Somon Air receives its first Boeing 737 MAX jet, a first for Tajikistan
Somon Air has received its first Boeing 737 MAX, marking the first appearance of the aircraft type in Tajikistan.
Boeing and the Tajik national carrier announced the delivery on August 3, 2026, in Dushanbe.
The 737-8 is the first of two aircraft Somon Air is leasing from Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE), part of the airline’s broader push to modernize its fleet and expand its network.
Abdulkosim Valiev, CEO of Somon Air, said Tajikistan’s central geographic location, paired with the 737-8’s improved range, gives the airline an opportunity to open new routes with better fuel economics. He added that Somon Air values its long-term relationship with Boeing and expects to keep growing its fleet with more modern, efficient aircraft going forward.
What the Boeing 737 MAX brings to the Somon Air
The 737-8 will support Somon Air’s short and medium-haul flying across Central Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
Boeing says the aircraft offers stronger range and operating economics than the previous-generation jets it’s replacing, giving the airline flexibility to serve high-demand routes while supporting plans for future growth, including service to London, Beijing, and Guangzhou.
The 737-8 can carry up to 210 passengers depending on configuration, with a range of up to 3,500 nautical miles, and is expected to cut fuel use and carbon emissions by 20% compared to the aircraft it replaces.
Firoz Tarapore, CEO of DAE, said the company was pleased to deliver both Somon Air’s first 737-8 and the first 737-8 in Tajikistan, describing it as part of a broader two-aircraft commitment between the companies.
DAE Capital’s fleet includes more than 190 Boeing 737 MAX family aircraft. Paul Righi, Boeing’s vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing for Eurasia, India, and South Asia, said the 737-8 is the right aircraft to support Somon Air’s evolution from a regional carrier into an emerging international one over the past two decades.
Part of a longer-running order
The delivery follows an agreement Somon Air and Boeing announced roughly a year and a half earlier, in which the airline committed to purchasing up to 14 fuel-efficient 787 Dreamliner and 737 MAX aircraft.
That deal for the two 737 MAX jets, signed with DAE Capital in Dushanbe by Valiev and then-DAE Capital President David Houlihan, had been in the works for some time, after Somon Air had previously expressed interest in both Airbus and Embraer aircraft before ultimately settling on Boeing.
At the time the deal was signed, Somon Air’s fleet consisted of four Boeing 737-800s and two 737-900ERs, each named after Tajik national heroes or historical figures, flying to destinations across Germany, the UAE, Turkey, China, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iran, India, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.
Founded in 2008 as a competitor to Tajikistan’s now largely defunct national carrier, Tajik Air, Somon Air has operated an all-Boeing fleet throughout its history and serves as the country’s leading commercial airline. It currently flies six Next-Generation 737 aircraft to 29 destinations across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East from its hub at Dushanbe International Airport.
RELATED
Somon Air signs deal for two Boeing 737 MAXs, eyes Tajikistan to London flights
The post Somon Air receives its first Boeing 737 MAX jet, a first for Tajikistan appeared first on AeroTime.
Somon Air has received its first Boeing 737 MAX, marking the first appearance of the aircraft type in…
The post Somon Air receives its first Boeing 737 MAX jet, a first for Tajikistan appeared first on AeroTime.
