The Tajik government has disbanded the Aviation Company of Tajikistan OSHC (ACT) just six months after it was established. Founded in June last year, government had sought to use the firm to bring Tajik Air (7J, Dushanbe) and Dushanbe International Airport back under one umbrella holding company in a bid to improve operational and cost efficiencies at the two state-owned enterprises.
However, according to Central Asian Aero News, the firm was officially dissolved at the end of last month for reasons that remain unclear.
The failed merger has been linked to the dismissal of Tajik Air's former CEO Rustam Khalikov who last year criticised the Ministry of Transport for toying with the airline's finances. In a written submission to the Prosecutor’s Office, he obliquely stated that the Tajik Civil Aviation Department's policies, presumably the failed merger, had cost the airline TJS1.5 million (USD190,852).
Though Khalikov was sacked on January 27, a day after the ACT was officially wound up, his complaint is still being processed Minister of Transport Sherali Gandzhalzoda. Khalikov has since been replaced by Khairullo Rakhimov.
