The capitals of Tajikistan and China are now linked by a direct passenger air route for the first time, following the launch of a new service by China Southern Airlines.

The inaugural flight on this historic route was operated yesterday.  The flight was operated by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, with future flights to be carried out using Boeing 737-800 aircraft.  This marks a significant milestone in strengthening bilateral ties between Dushanbe and Beijing, as China Southern becomes the first airline to establish regular direct service between the two cities.

Flight schedule

According to the airline's schedule, flights will operate twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays:

• Departure from Beijing: 17:00 (local time), arriving in Dushanbe at 21:00.
• Return from Dushanbe: 22:30, landing in Beijing at 07:20 the following day.

The flight duration is approximately seven hours from Beijing to Dushanbe and six hours on the return leg.

Boost to economic and cultural exchange

The launch of this direct air connection is seen as a key development in Tajik-Chinese relations, with officials and analysts expecting it to facilitate:

• Growth in trade volume,
• Expansion of tourism flows,
• Easier travel for students, businesspeople, and workers residing or operating in both countries.

China remains one of Tajikistan’s most important economic partners, and the enhanced connectivity is anticipated to further deepen cooperation.

Strategic expansion into Central Asia

China Southern Airlines, the largest airline in China, serves dozens of international destinations.  The addition of Dushanbe to its network is part of its broader strategy to expand operations in Central Asia, a region of increasing geopolitical and economic importance.