Tajikistan and China Reinstates Direct Dushanbe-Beijing Flights to Enhance Connectivity

Tajikistan and China have reinstated direct flights between Dushanbe and Beijing, enhancing trade and tourism links. Discussed by Tajikistan’s Civil Aviation Agency and the Chinese Ambassador, this route had previously faced suspensions. The decision comes as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral connectivity and follows prior agreements to restore services suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tajikistan and China have announced the reinstatement of direct flights between Dushanbe and Beijing, a crucial move aimed at fostering economic growth and tourism. This decision was crafted during a recent discussion between Habibullo Nazarzoda, the Head of the Civil Aviation Agency of Tajikistan, and Ji Shumin, the Chinese Ambassador to Tajikistan. This collaboration signifies a renewed commitment to enhancing bilateral connectivity.

The reinstated Dushanbe-Beijing route, first launched in 2016, originally featured weekly flights on Mondays using a Boeing 757, with a flight duration of approximately 5 hours and 30 minutes. However, low passenger demand led to the route’s suspension three months after its debut. Although there was a brief period of activity in 2017, it again faced cancellation.

The COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 further interrupted air travel, halting all direct flights between Tajikistan and China. While services to Urumqi resumed over time, flights to Beijing remained unavailable until an agreement was reached in June 2022 to restore these vital connections. Meanwhile, Dushanbe-Urumqi flights continued to serve as the main link between the two countries.

In 2024, a new flight between Khujand and Kashgar was initiated by Chandu Airlines, offering another connection for travel. This service operates weekly to Kashgar City Airport in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, with a flight duration of approximately 1.5 hours. With the return of the Dushanbe-Beijing route, Tajikistan and China are set to bolster aviation links and promote substantial growth in trade, investment, and tourism between the two nations.

The reinstatement of the direct flights between Dushanbe and Beijing is an important development for Tajikistan and China, as it seeks to enhance bilateral relations and connectivity. Following years of disruption due to low demand and the COVID-19 pandemic, this initiative is expected to facilitate economic growth and tourism, re-establishing a vital link between the two countries.

Original Source: www.travelandtourworld.com