Equal conditions ensured for local airlines in Armenia

YEREVAN, MAY 3, ARMENPRESS. Armenia is liberalizing the aviation market for local airlines by providing equal conditions and rights for everyone, Sergey Avetisyan, head of the general department of civil aviation told a press conference when asked whether or not Armenia is discussing having a national carrier.

“First of all it is important to affirm what we understand by saying national carrier. Usually it is the airline which is given some privilege in the market for operating international flights. There are countries which give monopolies to the national carriers for international flights, there are countries which provide the national carrier with some preferential modes. We have refused this policy, saying that we are opening and liberalizing the market by giving equal conditions to everyone”, he said.

He said under these conditions Armenia can have 1, 2 or 3 airlines, depending on market demand, and in this case the word ‘national’ isn’t principled.