KHUJAND'S NEW AIRPORT TERMINAL: AIR TRANSPORT GONE WRONG

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 DUSHANBE 000626

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EB

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ECON EAIR SOCI KCOR TI
SUBJECT: KHUJAND'S NEW AIRPORT TERMINAL: AIR TRANSPORT GONE WRONG

REF: A) DUSHANBE 0616 B) DUSHANBE 0576 C) 05 DUSHANBE 1845

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(U) Sensitive but unclassified. Please handle accordingly. Not
for public Internet.


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Tajikistan's northern industrial hub
Khujand's airport is outdated and lacks adequate security
features, but corrupt government officials refuse to open an
existing two-year old modern terminal next door. The spacious,
light-filled terminal with computerized processing and
first-class security screening equipment is so impressive that
it reportedly caught President Rahmonov's personal attention in
2004, and his family demanded a 51 percent stake in it. Even
when the private investors finally agreed to those terms,
government demands for more bribes have kept the modern terminal
from opening. END SUMMARY.

GOVERNMENT REFUSES TO OPEN NEWLY-BUILT MODERN TERMINAL


2. (SBU) A modern air terminal in the northern industrial
capital Khujand remains vacant because investors cannot pay off
enough government officials to open it. PolOff visited the
impressive $2 million air terminal connected to the existing
Soviet-era air terminal April 3 at the invitation of several
private Tajik investors from the Nur Company that built the new
terminal. Completed in 2004, the new facility is light and
spacious with glass walls throughout. Security equipment meets
international standards, and the customs area is completely
transparent with glass partitions. Computerized passenger
processing systems can handle up to 300 passengers boarding an
hour. There is even a duty-free area for travelers on
international flights, and a large comfortable waiting area with
adequate seats and a restaurant. Other amenities include 13
restrooms and a large, paved, efficiently allocated outdoor
parking area.


3. (SBU) The problem is that the air terminal is too nice and
modern, and reportedly garnered President Rahmonov's personal
attention. Investors obtained central government approval to
begin construction in 2003, but when Rahmonov visited Khujand in
2004, his eyes lit up when he saw the new structure and asked,
"Who built this?" Immediately after his visit, the investors
were denied permission to open the terminal, despite having
passed all government inspections and being internationally
certified. Over the past two years, the investors tried to pay
off the right people but the final word was that a 51 percent
ownership stake was needed to pass to Rahmonov's family. The
investors agreed to this, but still no official permission has
been forthcoming. Big money is at stake - if just a $10 transit
fee is tacked onto each passenger and 400,000 passengers transit
annually, profits from that fee alone would be about $4 million.
(COMMENT: That the bright modern terminal is superior to the
outdated, dank one in Dushanbe likely also plays a role,
considering the north-south rivalry in Tajikistan. END COMMENT.)

SORRY AND UNSAFE STATUS OF CURRENT TERMINAL


4. (SBU) Entering Khujand airport transports the traveler back
half a century. The flight arrival board is a crude large
chalkboard with a mishmash of flight information. The check-in
area consists of a door off to the side through which passengers
push and shove to have all their baggage weighed. The best way
to figure out which flight is boarding is to ask why the others
are gathered around the door. Baggage over 20 kilograms
requires extra fees, of course - but this can be "negotiated."
What passes for security is troublesome. There is no equipment
to screen baggage; passengers are instead simply asked if they
have any knives with them. Some luggage is given the most

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cursory of inspections, with inspectors asking if everything is
"packed clothes." Few people bother to walk through the single
decrepit metal detector and nobody is required to do so. PolOff
did not utilize the pungent restroom facilities, but the smell
permeated a good part of the terminal.


5. (SBU) Tajiks in the government or with money, as well as
diplomatic delegations, can bypass the main air terminal
altogether and use the Soviet-era VIP lounge and check-in
services which are much better than the main terminal. But most
Tajiks and other travelers cannot afford this luxury. There is
also a new, luxurious, and free-standing "VVIP" terminal at one
end of the airport for President Rahmonov's personal use. At
the other end, is an almost as impressive "CIP" terminal for
"Commercially Important People" who pay 50 somoni ($15.50) to
use the separate processing and waiting area.

WHAT DO BUSINESSMEN THINK?


6. (SBU) While many businessmen lament the poor quality of
service at the airport and by Tajik Air, nobody strongly
advocated that the new terminal open. Businessmen often
hesitated to express their opinions, and claimed that they heard
the airport did not pass "inspection." One businessman even
told PolOff he heard the "basement pillars" were unsound. Local
businessmen gave little thought as to how increased airport
traffic and additional international flights (possibly by
Russian or Chinese carriers) could expand their own production
and customer base. One large clothing manufacturer that flies
its products out of Tashkent for express orders to Italy did
concede, however, when directly asked, that Khujand airport
might be a cheaper option.

"TRAGIC AIR"


7. (SBU) The near monopoly and abysmal customer service of Tajik
Airlines (sometimes jokingly called Tragic Air by English
speakers) pervades Khujand airport. During PolOff's return
flight to Dushanbe on April 6, the flight was abruptly canceled
45 minutes prior to departure to combine two flights to maximize
passenger load. All passengers from PolOff's 4:30 pm flight
were told to depart on the 6:30 pm flight. Everyone then milled
throughout the airport, strategized how to get one of the few
available chairs, sat on the floor, or smoked outside the
entrance (any semblance of a security screening was lost) until
10:30 pm, when Tajik Air finally admitted that there would be no
flight to Dushanbe because of an evening thunderstorm.


8. (SBU) When PolOff finally boarded the Dushanbe-bound flight
16 hours later, things did not go any better. With no
computerization of the reservation or seating system, it is a
free-for-all to get the "best" seat. Capturing a prize seat
near the door afforded some wisps of breeze while the plane sat
on the runway for an hour until Tajik Air was able to round up
enough passengers to fill every single seat. But another delay
was in store because one official realized the cargo hold was
600 kilograms overweight, and the plane could not take off.
Much discussion on what to dispose of took place (PolOff had
squished into her seat with all personal luggage on the floor
and lap to avoid this contingency). The "overhead compartments"
were full and closing them was not required, nor was turning off
cell phones or other electronic devices. The aroma of cigarette
smoke wafted from the flight attendants' area next to the
emergency oxygen supply early on during the flight to Dushanbe -
which took all of 40 minutes.


9. (SBU) COMMENT: The modern and upgraded air terminal

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standing unopened next to the existing dilapidated and unsecure
structure represents a growing Tajik investment dilemma (ref C).
Corruption seriously impedes economic progress. In some cases,
businesspeople no longer know who to pay off to get results -
the bribe requests just get greedier and greedier. Khujand now
has the luxury of being a destination in demand for many
travelers going from Dushanbe to Tashkent because due to
Uzbek-Tajik tensions there are no flights. Dushanbe travelers
fly to Khujand and then take a taxi across the border to
Tashkent. There could surely be a daily flight between the two
capitals that would greatly benefit business, but President
Karimov, we are told, refuses to authorize such flights.
Finally, there is a great opportunity for increased regional
flights. The Afghan air carrier Kam Air now flies from Kabul to
Almaty. A Kabul-Dushanbe-Tashkent-Almaty flight would almost
surely be profitable - if the governments could agree. END
COMMENT.
HOAGLAND