DUSHANBE, July 21, 2014, Asia-Plus -- The Government of Tajikistan has ordered to put Soviet-era aircraft on sale, the head of the national air carrier, Tajik Air, Firouz Hamroyev, announced at a news conference in Dushanbe on July 21.

According to him, Tajik Air now has 23 Soviet-era aircraft, including Antonov An-24s, Yakovlev Yak-40s, and Tupolev Tu-154s.

“We now do not use the Soviet-era aircraft because many of them have outlived their service life and because of heavy fuel consumption,” said Hamroyev.  “Therefore, the government has made a decision to put them on sale.  They will be sold through the State Committee on Investment and State-owned Property Management.”

The fleet of Tajik Air now consists of the following aircraft: two Boeing 757-200s; two Boeing 737-400s; one Boeing 737-300, two Antonov An-28s; one Antonov An-26; one Chinese-made MA-60; and three helicopters Mi-8.

Tajik Air top manager noted that they did not planned to purchase new aircraft in the near future.  “We have to pay for aircraft, which we have already got, before the end of this year,” said Hamroyev.  “Later we will probably take aircraft on lease.  Today, we have enough aircraft to operate our flights”