Somon Air has taken delivery of its first Boeing 737 MAX, a 737-8 handed over in Dushanbe on 3 August 2026. The aircraft is the first 737 MAX delivered to Tajikistan and the first of two 737-8 jets the airline is leasing from Dubai Aerospace Enterprise.
Boeing linked the handover to Somon Air’s fleet modernisation and network expansion plans. The 737-8 is expected to cut fuel use and carbon emissions by about 20% compared with the aircraft it replaces, supporting the carrier’s push to refresh its narrowbody fleet.
The delivery follows Somon Air’s 2025 commitment for up to 14 aircraft, including 787 Dreamliners and 737 MAX jets, as the airline builds out its longer-term renewal strategy. Industry tracking identified the aircraft as VQ-BBA, ferried from Seattle Boeing Field to Dushanbe via Reykjavik Keflavik in late July, while the next 737-8 is expected shortly. Early scheduled service was expected to begin from 4 August, with routes including several destinations in Central Asia, the Middle East and Europe.