ArmInfo. The largest air carrier in the Middle East and North Africa, Air Arabia and the Armenian National Interests Fund (ANIF) today will sign an agreement on the creation of a new national airline of the Republic of Armenia. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian discussed this at the meeting with Chairman of the Board of Directors of UAE-based airline Air Arabia, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohamed Al Thani and CEO Adel Abdullah Ali.
According to the press service of the head of state's administration, it is planned that the newly created national air carrier will start operating flights next year.
During the meeting, the President expressed confidence that the company's activities in Armenia will become a new stimulus for the development of the air transportation sector and will contribute to strengthening interaction between the countries.
In turn, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohamed Al Thani expressing gratitude for the warm welcome, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohamed Al Thani said he highly values the Armenian-UAE inter-state relations and President Armen Sarkissian's personal efforts for developing those ties. He said both sides are greatly interested in developing the. He noted that both sides are interested in developing the cooperation, which served as a base for implementing this new joint project.
He expressed confidence that the new air bridge and the creation of the national carrier will be one more reliable step aimed at strengthening the Armenia-UAE commercial and business ties.
It is reported that during the meeting, the leadership of Air Arabia and the ANIF presented to the President the progress of the planned work in this direction and the upcoming programs.
To recall, in 2013 Armenia was left without a national air carrier due to the bankruptcy of the Armavia company, after which Air Armenia left the country's aviation market, unable to withstand competition with Russian carriers.
To note, Air Arabia is an Arab low-cost airline that was established in 2009, headquartered in Sharjah, operating in the market for passenger transportation from Sharjah and Alexandria airports, as well as from four airports in Morocco, to the Middle East, South -East Asia, Europe and the CIS.
The airline is the first low-cost airline in the Middle East, and operates flights to 89 cities around the world. The airline has its own subsidiaries - Air Arabia Egypt in Alexandria (Egypt) and Air Arabia Maroc in Casablanca.
Meanwhile, let us recall that in May this year it became known that the SIL Group concern, together with the Moldovan airline FlyOne, will soon enter the Armenian market of passenger air transportation under the brand name FlyOne ARMENIA, which will act as the country's national air carrier.
According to the SIL Group report, FlyOne Armenia LLC, according to the procedure, submitted an application for an aircraft operator's certificate in early spring.
It was reported, that on the morning of May 26, the first Airbus A320 of FlyOne Armenia Air Fleet arrived at Yerevan Zvartnots International Airport to undergo the necessary technical inspection.