Armenian airlines can be removed from European Commission's "black list" in next 2 years - deputy minister
YEREVAN, January 16. /ARKA/. Armenia-registered airlines blacklisted by the European Union in 2020 may be removed from the 'black list" in the next two years, Armenian Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Armen Simonyan said today.
Speaking at the parliamentary session, Simonyan recalled that Armenia and EU concluded the Agreement on Common Aviation Area that was ratified by Armenia last December.
Under the agreement, Armenia has to align its legislation with EU aviation rules and standards in areas such as aviation safety, air traffic management, security, the environment, economic regulation, competition, consumer protection and social aspects within the next 2 years.
According to the deputy minister, Armenia-registered airlines will be removed from the 'black list' in parallel with complying with these standards.
The benefits include new air transport opportunities, more direct connections and economic benefits to both sides:
All EU airlines will be able to operate direct flights from anywhere in the EU to any airport in Armenia, and vice versa for Armenian airlines. All limitations and restrictions on flights between Armenia and the EU will be removed and the provisions on open and fair competition will guarantee a level playing field.
In 2020 the European Commission updated the EU Air Safety List, according to which all the airlines certified in Armenia have no right to perform flights to the EU countries, with the exception of evacuation and humanitarian flights, as well as flights for medical purposes. The decision was made after a hearing with the Civil Aviation Committee of Armenia and six Armenian airlines.
On November 16, 2022 the Armenian parliament ratified the Agreement on the Common Aviation Area between the Republic of Armenia, on the one hand, and the European Union and its Member States, on the other hand", which was signed in Brussels on November 15, 2021. --0--
