DUSHANBE, March 31, 2011, Asia-Plus -- The State Committee on Investment and State-owned Property Management (GosKomInvest) has prohibited Tajik national air carrier, Tajik Air, from selling its three Tupolev Tu-154s and one Yakovlev Yak-40 without coordination of the issue with it.

The source at GosKomInvest says the government in person of GosKomInvest assumes the 100% ownership interest in the national air carrier, and therefore, the company must coordinate all issues concerning sale of any of its properties with GosKomInvest.  “After appropriate procedures and coordination of the issue with GosKomInvest, Tajik Air may announce the sale of these aircraft,” he added.

Senior representatives from Tajik Air have refrained from commenting on this issue.

We will recall that the source at Tajik Air told Asia-Plus on February 14 that the national air carrier has made the decision to sell its three Tu-154s and one Yak-40 in connection with renewal of its air fleet.  According to him, the aircraft are in running order, but they will outlive their service life in 2011.

In addition to TU-154Ms and Yak-40, the Tajik Air fleet now includes one Boeing 757-200, two Boeing 377-500s, two Boeing 737-200s, two Antonov-28s and helicopters MI-8MTB, Mi-172 and Mi-8T.