DUSHANBE, March 17, Asia-Plus  -- Tajikistan’s State Air Company Tojikiston has raised passenger fares on some flights on average by some 10 percent.

The Tajik national air carrier said the new rates went into effect March 14 on the routes from Dushanbe to the Russian cities. 

Thus, passenger fares on the route from Dushanbe to Moscow have rose some 11 percent.  An economy class ticket for the flight Dushanbe-Moscow, previously €263 (equivalent to US$409), now costs €291 (US$453), while the prices for the flight Moscow-Dushanbe and the roundtrip ticket have remained the same - €207 (US$322) and €391 ($609) respectively.  The prices of the business class ticket have also remained unchanged - €322 (US$501) for the route from Dushanbe to Moscow and €243 (US$378).   

In the meantime, the price of the economy class ticket for the flight from Dushanbe to St. Petersburg rose 4 percent, reaching €311 (US$481).  It had previously cost €299 (US$463).  The cost of the passenger fare from St. Petersburg to Dushanbe has remained the same - €227 (US$353).       

The passenger fares on the route from Dushanbe to Yekaterinburg have rose some 11 percent.  A ticket for the flight Dushanbe-Yekaterinburg, previously €251 (equivalent to US$391), now costs €279 (US$434), while the cost of passenger fare from Yekaterinburg to Dushanbe has remained the same - €195 (US$303).      

Similar price rises have been reported on the routes from Dushanbe to other Russian cities as well.    

The source at TajikAir said that the introduction of the new rate is connected with a seasonal increase in passenger traffic from Dushanbe to the Russian cities and seasonal decrease in passenger traffic from the Russian cities to Dushanbe.    

Tajik labor migrants usually go to the Russian Federation in the spring, and therefore the demand for tickets on the routes from Dushanbe to Russian cities increases during this season, said the source.