ArmInfo.The Armenian National Interests Fund (ANIF) and the largest low-cost air carrier in the Middle East and North Africa Air Arabia announced today the name of their joint venture, which will become the national air carrier of Armenia.
According to the ANIF press service, the national air carrier received the name Fly Arna (derived from Armenian National Avialines), which was selected by the Board of Directors among 500 proposed names within the tender announced in July this year. ANIF General Director David Papazyan expressed confidence that despite the current difficulties associated with the pandemic, Fly Arna will be able to provide a lucrative offer that will benefit Armenia and the Armenian people. In turn, Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia Group Adel Al Ali noted that Fly Arna could become the beginning of a new era for Armenia's aviation, stimulating tourism, hotel and related business areas. According to the source, Fly Arna will operate as a low-cost airline based at Zvartnots International Airport in Yerevan. In the coming weeks, the company will apply for an airline operator certificate. Soon, additional information on the launch date of flights, personnel and directions will be provided.
To recall, in July 2021, Air Arabia and the State Interests Fund of Armenia signed an agreement on the creation of a new national airline of the Republic of Armenia. It was reported that the newly created national air carrier will start operating flights next year. It should be reminded that in 2013 Armenia was left without a national air carrier due to the bankruptcy of Armavia, after which Air Armenia left the country's aviation market, unable to compete with Russian carriers. Note that 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 subsidiaries - Air Arabia Egypt in Alexandria (Egypt) and Air Arabia Maroc in Casablanca.
