Opportunity for Armenian residents for direct flight to Canada and Singapore becomes more real

ArmInfo. The Cabinet of Ministers of Armenia approved the proposal for the agreements "On air communications" between Armenia and Canada, and between Armenia and Singapore at the meeting on January 26.

According to the head of the General Department of Civil Aviation (CDCA) Sergey Avetisyan, at this stage relations between Armenia and these countries in the field of air communications are not regulated by intergovernmental agreements.

The agreements are aimed at a complete legal regulation of relations of the partner countries by establishing technical, economic and air security norms in air transportation. The agreements also aim to launch the Open Skies policy principles and to ensure a free competitive field for the airlines of the two states. 

When asked by Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan "When will we fly to Canada and Singapore directly?", Sergey Avetisyan answered "We create a legal basis, then start thinking".

On October 23, 2013 the Armenian government approved "The program of the provision of competitive and continuous air services in Armenia", based on a joint studies of McKinsey & Company and National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia. Due to this program, the Open Skies policy will have a positive influence on workplace openings, passenger traffic growth and air fares reduction. In this way, it is supposed that in existing terrestrial communications restrictions situation, the facilitation of communications with the outer world by means of air transportation will stimulate economic growth in Armenia. More specifically, the Open Skies policy and the effective implementation of the program is to increase the GDP by 0.3-0.4 billion USD, create 18000-23000 jobs in the fields of air communications and tourism, as well as to raise passenger traffic by 20-25%, and to reduce air ticket prices by an average of 10%.