Prime Minister leaves open possibility of having national air carrier on aviation market of country

ArmInfo. The Prime Minister of Armenia leaves open the possibility of having national air carrier on the aviation market of the country. ''On the current stage there are a number of proposals'', Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan stated at the press conference summing up the results of the 100 days of his premiership.

The Prime Minister noted that as of today it is difficult to evaluate seriousness and prospects of those proposals.  ''Would  I like to have national air carrier? Why not?'' he stated.  According to him in conditions of not having national air carrier more convenient conditions should be created for the passengers based on the existing resources. In this context, the Prime Minister expressed his dissatisfaction with the current situation on the market. He came to this conclusion when studying the flights of governmental delegations, expenses and time spent on wiating.  To note, Sergey Avetisyan, the Head of General Department of Civil Aviation, have repeatedly stated that in conditions of open sky policy it is basically impossible to have a national air carrier. ''As for local carrier I think Armenia needs one but it should be financially stable, safe ad competitive air carrier not relying on greenhouse conditions and donations from state budget'', he stated at the final press conference on December 20.

                To recall, the national air carrier of Armenia - Armavia - suspended its flights on 1 April 2013 and launched the bankruptcy procedure. In 2014 the same happened to Air Armenia. On October 23, 2013, the Armenian government approved the programme implying provision of competitive and long-term air transportation services in the country.  The program is based on a joint study of McKinsey & Company and National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia.  The "open sky" policy that was announced in the country in 2013 sparked a large- scale exodus of foreign companies from the Armenian market. To note, according to GDCA by the end of 2016 passenger flow through  Yerevan ''Zvartnots'' international airport will exceed 2 mln. As of  today the following companies carryout flights to Armenia: "Armenia", Aegean Airways, Georgian Airways, Iraqi Airways, Al Naser, Mahan Air, Middle East airways, S7 Airlines, Czech, LOT, Russian ''Saratov Airlines'' and '' Ural Airlines'', ". Nordwind Airlines'', "PEGAS FLY'',  UTair", "Pobeda'' Russian low-cost company.