Somon Air Introduces Tajikistan’s First IFE With Moment
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Somon Air will introduce in-flight entertainment (IFE) for the first time as the Tajikistan flag carrier adds eight new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft to its fleet. Working with Moment, the airline will offer wireless entertainment that passengers can access from their smartphones, tablets, and laptops beginning in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Bringing IFE to Somon Air’s 737 MAX Fleet
Somon Air currently operates an all-Boeing 737 fleet, but none of its aircraft offer in-flight entertainment. The airline will add IFE as part of a larger fleet modernization program announced with Boeing in November 2025.
The carrier received its first Boeing 737 MAX 8 in August 2026, with the agreement covering eight new aircraft. Adding IFE to the new fleet allows Somon Air to improve the passenger experience from the start.
“Our fleet renewal is about more than new aircraft, it changes what we can offer passengers from the first flight,” said Somon Air Chief Executive Officer Abdulkosim Valiev. “Introducing entertainment at the same time as the 737 MAX 8 enters service means we start this new chapter with a modern cabin experience.”
Moment will equip the aircraft with its Flymingo Box, a portable IFE server that runs on its own battery instead of using power from the aircraft. The system does not require an aircraft modification or Supplemental Type Certificate, allowing Somon Air to install it without adding another certification step.
Each Flymingo Box can run for up to 14 hours between charges and support up to 100 connected devices. Instead of using seatback screens, passengers can connect their smartphones, tablets, or laptops to the wireless system.
Somon Air’s network has traditionally focused on routes to Russia that connect Tajik communities, along with flights to the Gulf, Middle East, South Asia, and a growing number of destinations in Europe. The airline operates domestic flights within Tajikistan as well.
The IFE rollout comes as air travel continues to grow across Central Asia. Airline capacity in the region has grown at an average annual rate of 7.7% over the past two decades, giving carriers more opportunities to invest in new aircraft, technology, and the passenger experience.
“Central Asia’s airline capacity has grown by nearly 500% in twenty years, the fastest rate of any region in the world,” said Moment Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder Tanguy Morel. “Somon Air is introducing entertainment at the same time as it renews its fleet with the 737 MAX 8, so the onboard experience is built in from day one rather than added later. It’s the same pattern we’ve seen with AZAL and SCAT Airlines, and it’s becoming the norm across the region.”
Giving Passengers Entertainment on Their Own Devices
Somon Air will use Moment’s Mood platform, which allows airlines to choose individual features rather than use a fixed package. The airline will offer entertainment, travel information, and advertising through the platform.
Moment will provide movies, series, games, and podcasts in Tajik, Russian, and English. As Somon Air’s content service provider, the company will manage the entertainment available to passengers.
The travel information module will include a moving map, allowing passengers to follow their flight from their own devices. Somon Air will use the Ads module to manage its own onboard advertising campaigns.
The partnership builds on Moment’s growth across Central Asia. Earlier this year, Kazakhstan-based low-cost carrier SCAT Airlines partnered with Moment to introduce wireless IFE and onboard commerce across its Boeing fleet, becoming the company’s first airline customer in the region.