Somon Air (SZ, Dushanbe) confirmed that it has no plans to reactivate its two B737-300s and will operate an all-B737NG fleet going forward, including two new B737-800s.
The privately-owned Tajik carrier retired EY-545 (msn 24326) in April 2019 and EY-546 (msn 25613) in March 2020. Both remain in storage at Dushanbe, and it is not clear thus far whether they will be reactivated as demand returns. They are each configured in a single-class layout seating up to 148 passengers.
Somon Air will be replacing the -300 capacity with more B737NGs this year.
The airline took the first of the two new -800s in late August 2022. VQ-BHF (msn 39861), a 7.1-year-old jet owned by Aviation Capital Group and formerly operated by Thai Lion Air and Lion Air, was ferried from storage at Miami Opa-Locka via Halifax, Reykjavik Keflavik, and Istanbul Airport to Dushanbe over the course of August 27-30.
"It is with great pleasure that the expansion of our fleet coincides with the celebration of the 31st anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Tajikistan and also the Civil Aviation Day. The new aircraft will help Somon Air with the development of its route network and increase the number of frequencies and destinations for the convenience of our passengers," Deputy Chief Executive Abdulkosim Valiev said.
The second B737-800 is due to deliver in early September 2022. Its identity is not currently known, although the airline said it would also be a 2015-build.
The ch-aviation fleets module shows that the two newly delivered B737-800s will join the existing fleet of two more B737-800s and two B737-900ERs. Consequently, the airline plans to operate six B737NGs in fall 2022.
The carrier had plans to add widebodies - at various times in the past, either B767s or B787s - as well as B737-8s but these ambitions have yet to materialise. Its LOI for a single B737-8 from Air Lease Corporation was also cancelled during the type's global grounding.
