ArmInfo. The Russian Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) has given a permit to Pobeda low-cost carrier (member of Aeroflot Group) to make flights from Moscow to Gyumri, the second largest city of Armenia, according to the official website of the Agency. The flights will be carried out 7 times a week. In August 2016, Rosaviatsia gave Pobeda a permit to operate flights to Yerevan. The sale of the air tickets to Yerevan was to be launched by autumn, but the flights have not been opened so far. Pobeda operates flights to 58 destinations, including Italy, Germany, Spain, Slovakia, Montenegro, and Cyprus. Pobeda also carries out flights inside Russia - mainly, from Moscow and Krasnodar Territory.
On October 20, while presenting the government program for the next three years, Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan stated in Parliament that the Armenian government intends to re-launch the airport in Gyumri, the second largest city of Armenia. According to him the government will hold negotiations with a number of low-cost companies for this purpose.
To recall, no flights have been conducted from Shiak airport in Gyumri for a long period of time. The only flight Gyumri-Moscow was suspended in the beginning of this year. To note, "Shirak" airport is part of "Armenia" International Airports" CJS, established by the famous Argentinean businessman of Armenian descent Eduardo Eurnekian. The airport "Shirak" of Gyumri was built in 1961 and with its indices it is the second in the Republic of Armenia. The airport is located 5 km far from Gyumri and 120 km far from Yerevan. The building and the runway of the present functioning airport have been put into operation in 1982. The airport "Shirak" of Gyumri can be considered the second international alternate airport of Armenia.