Armenia’s Aviation Struggles: EU Ban, No Flag Carrier, Unexplained Incidents
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Loading... - Beatrice Abate
- 12 Mar 2025
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Armenia’s aviation sector is currently facing a multitude of challenges that threaten its connectivity and future viability. Having been on the European Union’s air safety blacklist for nearly five years, all Armenian airlines are barred from entering EU airspace. This situation has not only hindered the establishment of a national flag carrier but has also stunted efforts to develop a robust domestic passenger flight network. Consequently, Armenia remains heavily reliant on foreign airlines, raising serious questions about the industry’s future.
The Decline of Domestic Flights
During the Soviet era, Armenia boasted a well-developed domestic aviation network, with regular flights connecting Yerevan to various cities, including Stepanakert, Jermuk, Goris, Berd, and Sisian. Some destinations, like Kapan, enjoyed as many as 12 to 16 flights per day. However, following Armenia’s independence, local air travel rapidly declined, leading to the cessation of domestic flights within a few years. Today, many of these airports lie abandoned or have been repurposed for air sports, a stark contrast to their former utility.
Despite numerous proposals to revive domestic flights, only one project has materialized: the reopening of Syunik Airport near Kapan in August 2023. This airport now operates three weekly flights to and from Yerevan, but ticket sales remain inaccessible online, raising concerns about transparency and public availability. Additionally, 50% of the airport’s shares are owned by the Zangezur Copper and Molybdenum Combine, suggesting that the service may primarily cater to corporate needs rather than functioning as a fully developed regional transport link.
The operational flights are managed by Novair, an airline that has not updated its website since 2020 and appears to serve no purpose beyond the Kapan route. Compounding these issues is the airport’s precarious location, adjacent to the Azerbaijani border, which raises serious safety concerns. During the airport’s reconstruction, the terminal and personnel reportedly came under gunfire multiple times, casting doubt on the long-term viability of its operations.
Safety Concerns and EU Ban
Since 2020, all Armenian airlines have been banned from entering the European Union’s airspace due to failure to meet regulatory oversight standards outlined in the EU Air Safety List. This places Armenia alongside countries like Russia and Sudan, highlighting the severity of the situation. Although Armenia’s Civil Aviation Committee has claimed it is working to resolve the issue, with promises to lift the ban by the end of 2024, the situation remains unchanged.
As a result, Armenian airlines primarily operate flights to Asian destinations, while routes to Europe are covered by foreign low-cost carriers. However, these budget airlines are often criticized for cost-cutting practices that lead to frequent delays, cancellations, and overbooking, making travel to Europe increasingly inconvenient for passengers. This is particularly concerning given Armenia’s political aspirations to strengthen ties with Europe, as the current state of aviation severely limits connectivity.
A recent incident on December 14 further underscored the safety issues plaguing Armenian aviation. A Shirak Avia passenger flight mistakenly landed at Erebuni Airfield, a military base, instead of its intended destination, Zvartnots International Airport. Instead of transferring passengers by ground transportation, the aircraft took off again from Erebuni, exposing passengers to unnecessary flight risks. While local media attributed the error to pilot mistake, the Civil Aviation Committee remained silent on the cause, only stating that their investigation was ongoing nearly two months later.
Poor Management and Lack of a Flag Carrier
Unlike most countries that maintain a government-owned airline or flag carrier, Armenia has made multiple unsuccessful attempts to establish one. The most recent effort involved the Armenian National Interests Fund (ANIF) partnering with the Emirati low-cost carrier Air Arabia to launch Fly Arna. However, ANIF was dissolved last May due to financial mismanagement, leading to the collapse of Fly Arna. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan referred to ANIF as a “failure and disgrace,” highlighting the government’s disappointment.
Fly Arna now joins a long list of defunct Armenian airlines established since 1991. The average lifespan of an airline in Armenia has been just over five years, with many companies operating for even shorter periods. The oldest active airline in the country, Armenia Airways, was founded in 2013. This instability and short-term business planning raise significant concerns about aviation safety in Armenia.
The most recent airline closure occurred just this week when Air Dilijans lost its air operator certificate after selling its only aircraft to Georgian Airways. This pattern of fleeting operations underscores the lack of long-term vision necessary to build a sustainable and secure aviation infrastructure.
