Shohin Airlines took delivery of a new L-410NG aircraft from Czech manufacturer Aircraft Industries on September 24, 2026 — the company's first fixed-wing aircraft, having previously operated only helicopters. The aircraft was named "Badakhshon," fittingly matching the name of the region it now serves. On September 26 it completed a technical flight on the Dushanbe–Khorog route, followed on September 27 by its first passenger flight: President Emomali Rahmon was on board as he traveled to the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region for a working visit.
The L-410NG seats 19 passengers plus 2 crew members, has a range of up to 2,100 km, and can operate from runways longer than 600 meters — a critical capability for Khorog Airport, located in the mountainous Pamir region.
The Dushanbe–Khorog route itself is not new for the industry. Regular service on this route was restored on September 30, 2024, by national carrier Tajik Air using a repaired An-28 aircraft. Tajik Air currently operates two domestic routes on a regular basis — Dushanbe–Khorog and Dushanbe–Khovaling. Flights to Rasht, Kulob, and Panjakent have been operated several times, but based on available information there is currently no regular service on those routes. Shohin Airlines' entry therefore marks a second operator on the Dushanbe–Khorog line — and, for the company itself, its first-ever scheduled fixed-wing route.
Shohin Airlines' emergence as a second operator on regional routes comes amid a broader trend: Tajik authorities have in recent months focused not only on expanding international air connectivity but also on developing small-scale regional aviation domestically. In June 2026, a renovated airport building opened in Khovaling, followed in September 2026 by a reconstructed airport building in the Rasht district, with stated plans to restore regular air service there. President Rahmon described the Khovaling project as a potential model for building local airports in other cities and districts of the country.