ARMAVIA SUPPORTS CHIEF CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT'S INITIATIVE TO REDUCE NUMBER OF COMPANIES CARRYING OUT MOSCOW-YEREVAN AND YEREVAN-MOSCOW FLIGHTS
arminfo
Wednesday, April 25, 14:53
We fully support the Chief Civil Aviation Department's initiative
to reduce the number of companies carrying out Moscow-Yerevan and
Yerevan-Moscow flights, Mikhail Bagdasarov, the owner of Armavia,
the national air carrier of Armenia, said in an interview to ArmInfo.
He said that the current flight regime, when the Russian side is
represented by three-four companies, while the Armenian one by just
one carrier, is contrary to Armavia's interests.
Bagdasarov believes that it is not normal when several Russian
companies carry just 300 passengers from or to Moscow. "This may
result in either their bankruptcy or the closure of the flights. We
have no such problems with other foreign companies. The main thing
that attracts foreigners is the high service prices at Zvartnots
Airport. So, what we call self-sufficiency, they call a profit,"
Bagdasarov said.
He dismissed the allegations saying that Armavia enjoys monopoly in
the sphere. "What monopoly are you talking about if there are dozens
of foreign companies having flights to Armenia. The only monopoly is
our flights to Tel Aviv and Athens," Bagdasarov said,
ITAR TASS reported on Tuesday that during its last consultations with
Russia's Transport Ministry Armenia's Chief Civil Aviation Department
suggested that only two companies carry out the flights from each side
and that the flight frequency be reduced from 49 to 42 flights a week.
The Russians declined the offer. The new consultations are scheduled
for May 30.
To remind, in Mar 2012 Russia's Federal Air Navigation Authority
stopped maintaining Armavia's planes because of the company's debts.
Armavia promised to repay its $5.3mln debt to Zvartnots Airport by
Sept 2012 in exchange for 25% discount in tariffs.
arminfo
Wednesday, April 25, 14:53
We fully support the Chief Civil Aviation Department's initiative
to reduce the number of companies carrying out Moscow-Yerevan and
Yerevan-Moscow flights, Mikhail Bagdasarov, the owner of Armavia,
the national air carrier of Armenia, said in an interview to ArmInfo.
He said that the current flight regime, when the Russian side is
represented by three-four companies, while the Armenian one by just
one carrier, is contrary to Armavia's interests.
Bagdasarov believes that it is not normal when several Russian
companies carry just 300 passengers from or to Moscow. "This may
result in either their bankruptcy or the closure of the flights. We
have no such problems with other foreign companies. The main thing
that attracts foreigners is the high service prices at Zvartnots
Airport. So, what we call self-sufficiency, they call a profit,"
Bagdasarov said.
He dismissed the allegations saying that Armavia enjoys monopoly in
the sphere. "What monopoly are you talking about if there are dozens
of foreign companies having flights to Armenia. The only monopoly is
our flights to Tel Aviv and Athens," Bagdasarov said,
ITAR TASS reported on Tuesday that during its last consultations with
Russia's Transport Ministry Armenia's Chief Civil Aviation Department
suggested that only two companies carry out the flights from each side
and that the flight frequency be reduced from 49 to 42 flights a week.
The Russians declined the offer. The new consultations are scheduled
for May 30.
To remind, in Mar 2012 Russia's Federal Air Navigation Authority
stopped maintaining Armavia's planes because of the company's debts.
Armavia promised to repay its $5.3mln debt to Zvartnots Airport by
Sept 2012 in exchange for 25% discount in tariffs.