# Tajikistan’s Somon Air Enters Second Boeing 737MAX 8 into Service

*16 September 2026 · CentralAsia+Aero*

**Flag carrier’s fleet expands to eight aircraft**

Somon Air, the primary airline of Tajikistan, has introduced its second Boeing 737MAX 8 into revenue service, the carrier confirmed to *CentralAsia+Aero*.

The newly delivered aircraft (msn 66774, registration VQ-BBD)—named in honor of Abu Abdullah Rudaki, the founder of Persian-Tajik classical literature—ferried directly from Boeing’s Seattle facilities to Dushanbe International Airport on September 12. The twinjet was integrated into the carrier’s scheduled flight schedule the following day.

Like [Somon Air’s initial 737MAX 8 delivered](https://centralasiaplus.aero/2026/08/03/tajikistans-somon-air-to-use-newly-delivered-boeing-737max-to-launch-new-services-to-uk-china/) in late July, the CFM LEAP-1B-powered aircraft is on long-term lease from Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE).

The additional capacity supports the private carrier's ongoing route expansion. In August, Somon Air inaugurated non-stop services from Dushanbe to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Minsk, Belarus. Earlier this year, the airline launched capital routes to Tbilisi, Georgia and Ufa, Russia, alongside a regional link connecting Khujand to Kazan, Russia. Somon Air’s network currently serves approximately 30 destinations.

With this delivery, Somon Air operates an all-Boeing fleet of eight aircraft, including two 737 MAX 8s, four 737-800s, and two 737-900ERs. Looking ahead, the airline signed a memorandum of understanding with Boeing in November 2025 for up to [ten 737MAX 8s and four widebody 787-9](https://centralasiaplus.aero/2025/11/07/tajikistans-somon-air-commits-to-up-to-14-boeing-aircraft-including-first-ever-widebodies/) Dreamliners.

Elsewhere in Central Asia, Kazakh operator Vietjet Qazaqstan (formerly Qazaq Air) is also scheduled to take delivery of its first 737MAX aircraft before year-end.

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Source: https://centralasiaplus.aero/2026/09/16/tajikistans-somon-air-enters-second-boeing-737max-8-into-service/