Tajik Air (7J, Dushanbe) has completed its merger with Dushanbe International Airport, initiated a year ago. Together, the two entities are now part of the newly formed Aviation Company of Tajikistan OSHC headed by Rustam Kholikov.
The move is aimed at allowing Tajik Air to consolidate its position in the local and regional market in the face of increased competition from fellow CIS carriers - Russia in particular.
Government's decision to centralize its aeronautical firms into one firm follows a disastrous decision in 2008 to spin off airport management and ground handling services from the airline's control. The resulting loss of market dominance almost resulted in Tajik Air's demise.
