Expert: Modification of old (circular) building of Zvartnots Airport is more favorable from financial viewpoint

ArmInfo. The modification of the old (circular) building of Zvartnots Airport will be 10 times as cheap as the implementation of the new airport development project, Dmitry Atbashyan, Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Air Transport Policy of the Armenian Public Council, Chairman of the National Aviation Association, said at a press conference on March 29.   

He said that the old building can be brought in compliance with up-to-date requirements. In addition, it is possible to effectively use empty parts of the building. "For instance, it is possible to place registration desks there to prevent dozens of thousands of square meters from        

The expert stressed that the old building is in a good condition and all talks that it is not earthquake resistant have nothing to do the reality. "During the Soviet years, the project of the building received positive assessments of the experts, who examine the reliability of the Ostankino tower," Atbashyan said.

Architects Anahit Tarkhanyan and Zhorzh Shekhlyan have already prepared their projects on modification of the Zvartnots building. "I think they can just as well join their efforts", the expert said. 

Atbashyan pointed out that the old building is better than the new one in terms of aircraft servicing. The matter concerns the equipment of ground servicing of aviation facilities. "Unlike the new terminal, the old one had a centralized aircraft refueling system. In addition, there were all communications for power supply of the planes, whereas the new terminal uses a special vehicle which approaches the planes," Atbashyan has told ArmInfo's correspondent.

To recall, the terminal of Zvartnots Airport was built upon the project of architects A.Tarkhanyan, S.Khachikyan, L.Cherkezyan, Zh.Shekhlyan, A.Tigranyan, A.Meschyan and designer S.Baghdasaryan. It was put into operation in 1980. In June 2002 Zvartnots Airport was transferred to concession of Armenia International Airports CSJC owned by Argentinean entrepreneur Eduardo Eurnekian.  In 2013 Armenia International Airports CSJC made a statement that the old terminal presents a very dangerous structure and does not fit with modern aeronautical standards. The project on demolishing the building raised harsh criticism among architects, who noted that the building has historic value.

The concessionaire presented a new project in 2015 according to which the old building of Zvartnots will be kept partially. According to the project, only the control tower will be maintained while the old terminal will be demolished.

Yerevan Municipality issued a permit for partial demolition of old (circular) building of Zvartnots airport.  The statement particularly says that circular overpass of the old terminal will be demolished, which is in ultimate limit state. The relevant permission was given to Armenia International Airports CJSC on December 24, 2015.

Armenian architects stand for the maintenance of the old building.  Earlier the experts noted that the old building of Zvartnots along with Armenia's other complexes of strategic importance (NPP, a number of HPPS, Arpa-Sevan underpass) were constructed in compliance with the rules of safety and can stand earthquake of magnitude 9.