Turkmenistan

Asia

1Airlines
0Profiled Airports
1With ICAO
1With Callsign

Aviation History

Turkmenistan Airlines was established in 1992 as the country's sole state airline following independence from the Soviet Union, notably becoming the first former-Soviet carrier to buy a Boeing jet. Operating as a state monopoly headquartered in Ashgabat, it has modernized with long-haul Boeing widebodies while periodically facing international regulatory restrictions, including a 2019 EU flight suspension.

Turkmenistan Airlines is the sole carrier permitted to operate in the country; no domestic competitors are allowed.
Ashgabat International Airport's terminal building is designed in the shape of a falcon, a national symbol.
1992
Turkmenistan Airlines established

Founded 4 May as the country's sole flag carrier; it purchases a Boeing 737-300, the first such purchase by any former Soviet airline.

1993
Turkmenistan joins ICAO

Turkmenistan gains full membership in the International Civil Aviation Organization in April.

2001
Boeing 717s enter domestic fleet

Turkmenistan Airlines begins phasing out Soviet-era aircraft in favor of Boeing 717s on domestic routes.

2019
EU suspends flying permissions

The European Aviation Safety Agency suspends Turkmenistan Airlines' permissions to the UK, France and Germany over safety concerns; operations resume after roughly 10 months.

2023
First Central Asian A330-200P2F operator

Turkmenistan Airlines becomes the first Central Asian carrier to operate the Airbus A330-200P2F converted freighter.

Notable Carriers

Turkmenistan Airlines (state monopoly — the country's only airline)

Wikipedia, ICAO, TAL Aviation

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