Expert: collapse of Armenia’s air carrier one of biggest losses for national aviation and security
13.12.2013,
19:05
The collapse of Armenia’s national air carrier has become one of the biggest losses for national aviation and security, Izabella Muradyan, a member of the presidential council’s commission on air transport, said Friday at a news conference.
YEREVAN, December 13. /ARKA/. The collapse of Armenia’s national air carrier has become one of the biggest losses for national aviation and security, Izabella Muradyan, a member of the presidential council’s commission on air transport, said Friday at a news conference.
On April 1, 2013, Armavia, the only national air company of Armenia canceled all its flights and started bankruptcy procedure.
“This has stricken hard at the country, since the lack of own air carrier have very adverse impacts in the event of disasters or wars, and Armenia has no airplanes belonging to the government or Armenian air companies,” Muradyan said.
She pointed out that Georgia has 54 aircraft and Azerbaijan 28, and these airplanes are very modern. Muradyan stressed that Azerbaijan’s air companies are state-owned.
Armavia, she said, had eight own aircraft – three CRGs, three Boeing 737500, one Airbus and one YAK 42, and the company’s AirArmenia Airbus 320, Boeing 373500 and other cargo airplanes were leased. “If state of war is declared or any force majeure circumstances appear, nobody let own airplanes to fly to Armenia,” she added.
Muradyan also said that Armavia’s personnel have to work at other companies now or stay jobless losing their qualifications. She said the government should be anxious to have this niche filled since these specialties are very high-paid and complicated, and it is difficult to obtain such qualifications. “We will long feel these losses,” she said.
Muradyan refused to answer additional questions asked by journalists and to comment on the matter.
On October 23, Armenian government approved the program of provision of competitive and sustainable air services in Armenia.
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan called the program the first step on the way to aviation liberalization, which implies establishment of at least three national air carriers in Armenia.Earlier, Air Armenia company expressed wish to take part in a tender. ---0----
