“Expensive” Armenian sky
08.08.2013,
14:08
Vacation season is still in full swing, and many of our citizens plan to spend their holidays abroad. Apart from Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as Georgian Black Sea resorts that have become popular recently, many Armenians prefer spending their summer vacations in more remote countries. One can reach Batumi and Kobuleti by car or the special “Armenia” train operated by the South Caucasus Railway, whereas the only transport to other countries is airplane due to Turkey’s and Azerbaijan’s blockade of Armenia.
YEREVAN, August 8. /ARKA/. Vacation season is still in full swing, and many of our citizens plan to spend their holidays abroad. Apart from Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as Georgian Black Sea resorts that have become popular recently, many Armenians prefer spending their summer vacations in more remote countries. One can reach Batumi and Kobuleti by car or the special “Armenia” train operated by the South Caucasus Railway, whereas the only transport to other countries is airplane due to Turkey’s and Azerbaijan’s blockade of Armenia.
Many experts and even ambassadors believe high air ticket prices and few direct flights hinder development of tourism in Armenia.
Heading to Tbilisi
Recently many Armenian citizens prefer flying abroad not from Armenian “Zvartnots” but from Tbilisi airport, as air tickets from Georgia cost considerably less than from Armenia. Even several hours’ driving distance to Tbilisi and need for going through customs at the border do not withhold people.
If you take a minute to look at prices in air ticket offices and tour agencies, you will understand why.
For instance, one of the most popular destinations for Armenians this summer, Barcelona will cost (including return) 468 euros from Yerevan and only 350 euros from Tbilisi, with both flights operated by Polish LOT via Warsaw. The LOT has set different prices also for direct flights – Yerevan-Warsaw-Yerevan costs 420 euros whereas Tbilisi-Warsaw-Tbilisi costs 310 euros only.
And LOT is not the only one… Charter flight to Antalya and back in summer time will cost 300-350 dollars if traveling from Tbilisi and 350 euros from Yerevan (the prices do not include travel package, which may bring the ticket price down).
Charter flights to Sharm El Sheikh cost 450 dollars from Yerevan and 300-350 dollars from Tbilisi.
It is cheaper from Yerevan only when flying to Moscow, but that is probably due to complicated relations between Russia and Georgia. SibAvia ticket for Yerevan-Moscow-Yerevan is 344 euros, whereas Tbilisi-Moscow-Tbilisi operated by the same air company costs 374 euros.
Flying to Dubai is also cheaper from Yerevan – 220 dollars as compare to 320 dollars from Tbilisi.
“Zvartnots” say they are not to blame
Earlier representatives of bankrupted national air company Armavia said air ticket prices were high due to expensive airport service. Yet, the management of the airport says service prices at Zvartnots are not higher than in any other airport in the region.
“In general, if only airport tariffs are considered, we are competitive and provide even cheaper services than the neighboring states do. Our services, for instance, are twice as cheap as in Azerbaijan”, deputy general manager of Armenia – International Airports closed joint stock company Andranik Shkhyan said.
According to Shkhyan, the weaknesses of Zvartnots are high jet fuel costs, air “tax” (state duty of 10,000 drams included in the air ticket price) and a number of other services beyond the airport’s competence.
Prices for jet fuel that has considerable contribution to high air ticket costs are regulated by the State Commission for Economic Competition and depend on a number of factors, Shkhyan said. The margin is from 100 to 150 dollars per ton, he added.
General manager of Armenia – International Airports cjsc Marselo Vende, in his turn, said number of flights to Armenia should be increased and Armenian air market should be liberalized in order to get the air ticket prices reduced.
Zvartnots may turn into a transit airport?
In late May Armenian premier Tigran Sargsyan said at the parliament one of the options for aviation development in Armenia is transferring Zvartnots into a transit airport. But these plans may fail, like some of the other government projects, under the current circumstances, when even Armenian residents prefer flying not from their home Zvartnots, but from Tbilisi.
And if the air ticket prices are high in Armenia due to high service costs at Zvartnots then it is time for the government to think over development of Giumri airport (about 120 kilometers from Yerevan).
Development of Giumri airport may be important also in terms of development in Armenia’s regions which is said to be of high importance to the government.
Hayk Khalatyan, specially for ARKA Agency
Many experts and even ambassadors believe high air ticket prices and few direct flights hinder development of tourism in Armenia.
Heading to Tbilisi
Recently many Armenian citizens prefer flying abroad not from Armenian “Zvartnots” but from Tbilisi airport, as air tickets from Georgia cost considerably less than from Armenia. Even several hours’ driving distance to Tbilisi and need for going through customs at the border do not withhold people.
If you take a minute to look at prices in air ticket offices and tour agencies, you will understand why.
For instance, one of the most popular destinations for Armenians this summer, Barcelona will cost (including return) 468 euros from Yerevan and only 350 euros from Tbilisi, with both flights operated by Polish LOT via Warsaw. The LOT has set different prices also for direct flights – Yerevan-Warsaw-Yerevan costs 420 euros whereas Tbilisi-Warsaw-Tbilisi costs 310 euros only.
And LOT is not the only one… Charter flight to Antalya and back in summer time will cost 300-350 dollars if traveling from Tbilisi and 350 euros from Yerevan (the prices do not include travel package, which may bring the ticket price down).
Charter flights to Sharm El Sheikh cost 450 dollars from Yerevan and 300-350 dollars from Tbilisi.
It is cheaper from Yerevan only when flying to Moscow, but that is probably due to complicated relations between Russia and Georgia. SibAvia ticket for Yerevan-Moscow-Yerevan is 344 euros, whereas Tbilisi-Moscow-Tbilisi operated by the same air company costs 374 euros.
Flying to Dubai is also cheaper from Yerevan – 220 dollars as compare to 320 dollars from Tbilisi.
“Zvartnots” say they are not to blame
Earlier representatives of bankrupted national air company Armavia said air ticket prices were high due to expensive airport service. Yet, the management of the airport says service prices at Zvartnots are not higher than in any other airport in the region.
“In general, if only airport tariffs are considered, we are competitive and provide even cheaper services than the neighboring states do. Our services, for instance, are twice as cheap as in Azerbaijan”, deputy general manager of Armenia – International Airports closed joint stock company Andranik Shkhyan said.
According to Shkhyan, the weaknesses of Zvartnots are high jet fuel costs, air “tax” (state duty of 10,000 drams included in the air ticket price) and a number of other services beyond the airport’s competence.
Prices for jet fuel that has considerable contribution to high air ticket costs are regulated by the State Commission for Economic Competition and depend on a number of factors, Shkhyan said. The margin is from 100 to 150 dollars per ton, he added.
General manager of Armenia – International Airports cjsc Marselo Vende, in his turn, said number of flights to Armenia should be increased and Armenian air market should be liberalized in order to get the air ticket prices reduced.
Zvartnots may turn into a transit airport?
In late May Armenian premier Tigran Sargsyan said at the parliament one of the options for aviation development in Armenia is transferring Zvartnots into a transit airport. But these plans may fail, like some of the other government projects, under the current circumstances, when even Armenian residents prefer flying not from their home Zvartnots, but from Tbilisi.
And if the air ticket prices are high in Armenia due to high service costs at Zvartnots then it is time for the government to think over development of Giumri airport (about 120 kilometers from Yerevan).
Development of Giumri airport may be important also in terms of development in Armenia’s regions which is said to be of high importance to the government.
Hayk Khalatyan, specially for ARKA Agency
