DUSHANBE, April 4, Asia-Plus - Over the past several days alone, prices of tickets on flights from Tajikistan to the Russian cities conducted by the Russian air company “Domodedovo” have risen on average by 8.5 percent, Asia-Plus has learned from Pulod Yahyoyev, head of the sales and air transportation department within the limited liability company “Aviatrans” representing Russian air company “Domodedovo” in Tajikistan.   

According to him, the ticket prices may rise by further 5%-10% within the next three months.  

Mr. Yahyoyev says that this price hike has resulted from increasing demand for these flights among Tajikistan ’s population.  “Usually, a number of Tajiks leaving the country for Russia seeking better employment opportunities is increasing in mid-spring,” said Yahyoyev, “Today, the tickets for the flight Dushanbe-Moscow cost in our company US$#50 (economic class) and US$380 (business-class).”    

 At present, there are more than 40 agencies in Tajikistan on selling air tickets; five of them represent interests of Russian air carriers.  

In the meantime, according to information from Tajikistan ’s national air company “Tojikiston”, the tickets fro the flight Dushanbe-Moscow conducted by the Tajik national air carrier cost US$290 (economic class) and US$380 (business class).  

Odina Odinayev, a specialist with the prices monitoring department of the Ministry of Economy and Trade, such prices will remain in effect at least for three or four months.  “During the season of mass departure of labor migrants prices are risen mainly artificially,” said Odinayev, “Besides the prices hike may result from rising cost of air kerosene.”