ArmInfo. Russian low cost Pobeda airline company (subsidiary of Aeroflot) is satisfied with the flights carried out from Shirak airport and currently is discussing the issue of increasing frequency of flights with the General Department of Civil Aviation, head of the Department Sergey Avetisyan stated after the government's session on January 26.
According to Avetisyan Pobeda company ensures almost 100% occupancy of the aircrafts, and this demonstrates its success. Considering this the company plans to increase the number of flights from Gyumri airport.
At the same time Sergey Avetisyan does not see any dumping elements by the Russian low cost company on the Armenian aviation market, particularly related to "Armenia" airline carrier. "There is no dumping on the market. We have harsh competitive environment and the companies operate in quite rough conditions", he stated. As for the servicing tariff set by the Zvartnots international airport, with which a lot of Armenian airline companies were and currently "Armenia" company is dissatisfied, according to Avetisyan they are quite competitive on the regional level and in some directions even lower compared to neighbor Georgia.
To recall, Pobeda low-cost air carrier launched the sale of tickets from Moscow (Vnukovo airport) to Gyumri, the second largest city of Armenia on November 21, 2016. The company reports that within the framework of Fly&Bus service, Pobeda offers the new flight passengers to make use of transfer services to Yerevan. Until the end of the winter schedule, no fewer than 10,000 tickets are sale at the price of 999 Russian rubles, including all taxes and fees. Pobeda started to carry out flights to Gyumri starting from December 15, thrice a week - on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. The departure from Moscow (Vnukovo airport) will presumably be at 8.00 am, and the arrival in Gyumri will be at 11.50 am. The departure from Gyumri will be scheduled for 12.25 pm, and the arrival in Moscow will be at 2.25 pm. On Sundays, the flight hours will be made an hour earlier. Pobeda uses a Boeing 737-800.
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. 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.