Armenia airline ready to compete with low-cost Pobeda
01.11.2016,
15:48
The recently established Armenia airline is ready to compete with low-cost carrier Pobeda, an affiliation of the Russian Areroflot, if a level playing field is secured for all, Armenia CEO, Robert Hovhannisyan, told a news conference today.
YEREVAN, November 1. /ARKA/. The recently established Armenia airline is ready to compete with low-cost carrier Pobeda, an affiliation of the Russian Areroflot, if a level playing field is secured for all, Armenia CEO, Robert Hovhannisyan, told a news conference today.
Late last month Pobeda said it received approval for operating 7 weekly flights from Moscow to Gyumri, the second largest city of Armenia. Earlier, it received also the approval for operating flights from the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don to Yerevan. Pobeda’s first flight is scheduled for late November. The cost of a one-way ticket begins from 10 thousand drams (about $21).
According to Robert Hovhannisyan, Pobeda has the same costs and insurance as Armenia airline, however, he added that departures from Gyumri airport are not as comfortable as from Zvartnots airport in Yerevan, because passengers from across the country will have to spend several hours and extra money to reach Gyumri. He said Armenia intends also to restore flights to Moscow in mid-December.
"We expect an influx of passengers ahead of New Year, because the bulk of Armenian labor migrants in Russia are coming back home and many Russians would like to arrive in Armenia for New Year's holidays", - Hovhannisyan said.
In addition, he said, on December 16th the airline will start flying passengers to the central Russian city of Voronezh twice a week by a Boeing with 116 seats.
In October 2013, the Armenian government introduced its open sky policy, which ensures competitive conditions for air services providers in the Armenian market. The program is based on the results of a joint study by McKinsey & Company and the National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia. -0-
Late last month Pobeda said it received approval for operating 7 weekly flights from Moscow to Gyumri, the second largest city of Armenia. Earlier, it received also the approval for operating flights from the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don to Yerevan. Pobeda’s first flight is scheduled for late November. The cost of a one-way ticket begins from 10 thousand drams (about $21).
According to Robert Hovhannisyan, Pobeda has the same costs and insurance as Armenia airline, however, he added that departures from Gyumri airport are not as comfortable as from Zvartnots airport in Yerevan, because passengers from across the country will have to spend several hours and extra money to reach Gyumri. He said Armenia intends also to restore flights to Moscow in mid-December.
"We expect an influx of passengers ahead of New Year, because the bulk of Armenian labor migrants in Russia are coming back home and many Russians would like to arrive in Armenia for New Year's holidays", - Hovhannisyan said.
In addition, he said, on December 16th the airline will start flying passengers to the central Russian city of Voronezh twice a week by a Boeing with 116 seats.
In October 2013, the Armenian government introduced its open sky policy, which ensures competitive conditions for air services providers in the Armenian market. The program is based on the results of a joint study by McKinsey & Company and the National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia. -0-
