ArmInfo.After the formation of a national air carrier, Armenia will turn to Europe with a request, as an exception, to allow access to the "European sky".
Tatevik Revazyan, Head of the Civil Aviation Committee (CAC), said this during an online press conference, answering the question whether the newly formed Armenian air carrier will get access to the European sky, given the fact that Armenian companies are denied access to flights to Europe.
She noted that one option is to ask Europe to make an exception in this case and allow the new airline to fly to Europe, given that Air Arabia is one of the safest airlines in the world.
According to Revazyan, there is another option: the registration of airliners in Sharjah, but to base the planes in Yerevan. <We are also considering a similar option. We will explore various options and opportunities for gaining access to flights to Europe>, said the head of the CAC.
According to her, as for the body she governs, everything is being done to get out of the "EU black list", are there any serious successes? Revazyan also blamed the former leadership of the country and bodies for being included in this list, according to tradition.
At the same time, she stressed that the national air carrier, formed thanks to the agreement signed recently by the Armenian National Interests Fund (ANIF) and Air Arabia group, will fly in all those priority directions for Armenia and where there will be a corresponding niche. However, according to her, the flight range will not exceed 5.5 hours.
She also assured that before deciding on cooperation with Air Arabia, the experience of air carriers from all over the world was taken into account, developed criteria and received an application from Air Arabia. Revazyan explained that based on the model of Air Arabia's functioning, its experience, knowledge, infrastructures, aircraft, an airline will be formed to serve the Armenian market, which will be registered in the Republic of Armenia. At the same time, she stressed that with the entry of Air Arabia into the Armenian market, standards in the Armenian aviation will rise, including those related to security.
Answering the question about the pricing policy of Air Arabia, the head of the CAC explained that the low- cost airline, first of all, will do everything to reduce its costs, which will allow, without losing competitiveness, to offer low fares in certain directions. In this context, Revazyan said that the newly formed air carrier will not have a business class.
It should be noted that back in June last year, the European Commission included all seven airlines registered in Armenia in the "black list" of the European Union, banning them from flying within the EU.
According to the European Commission, they do not meet international air safety standards. At the end of 2019, the European Commission fixed the problems and took the activities of the Civil Aviation Committee of Armenia under increased control. The committee said the problem arose after Taron Avia, Atlantis European Airways and Aircompany Armenia wanted to fly to Europe and tried to get permission. To issue them a permit, the EU Aviation Safety Agency conducted a study and identified serious problems at Taron Avia, which is currently not operational.
