DAE confirms lease of two Boeing 737MAXs to Tajikistan’s Somon Air

:: DAE

The UAE-based lessor Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) has confirmed an agreement to lease two new Boeing 737MAX-8 passenger aircraft to the Tajik carrier Somon Air. Delivery of the aircraft is scheduled for later this year.

“We are pleased to have signed the lease agreements with DAE Capital for the new Boeing 737MAX-8 aircraft. This addition will support Somon Air’s network expansion, enable the launch of new routes, and enhance the overall efficiency of our operations,” said Abdulkasim Valiev, CEO of Somon Air.

The privately-held Tajik carrier originally announced the agreement with DAE for the two MAXs in January 2025, with summer of this year cited as the expected delivery window.

In November 2025, Somon Air further signaled its growth plans by announcing a commitment with Boeing to place an order for 10 additional 737MAX-8 jets.

Currently, Somon Air operates a fleet of previous-generation 737NG aircraft, including four 737-800s and two larger 737-900s. Last year, the airline saw an 8.6% increase in traffic, surpassing the 1 million passenger milestone again.