DUSHANBE, February 22, 2013, Asia-Plus  -- Tajik and Kazakh civil aviation authorities are seeking ways to expand bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation.

Representatives from the Civil Aviation Committee at the Ministry of Transport and Communication of Kazakhstan are currently in Dushanbe to discuss opening of new air routes between the two countries on a parity basis, an official source at the Ministry of Transport of Tajikistan told Asia-Plus in an interview.

“The Kazakh side, for example, offers to launch an air route from Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan to Dushanbe,” said the source, “The sides are expected to discuss many other cooperation issues.

At present, Tajik private air carrier, Somon Air, operates a twice-weekly service from Dushanbe to Almaty.  Besides, Tajik national air carrier, Tajik Air, operates once-weekly service from Dushanbe to Almaty and Air Astana, the principal airline and the flag carrier of Kazakhstan, now operates a triple-weekly service from Almaty to Dushanbe.