Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan has announced ambitious government plans to develop the country’s aviation infrastructure. According to the Prime Minister, the government intends not only to restore existing airports but also to create new small airports across Armenia.
Initially, the government aims to renovate airports in the cities of Sisian, Jermuk, and Stepanavan. Pashinyan stated that a decision regarding Sisian airport has already been made, and work on the remaining projects will be carried out in stages.
Special attention is being given to Kapan Airport in the south of the country, where international service standards are expected to be introduced, including the capability to handle international flights.
Currently, only two Armenian airports — Yerevan and Gyumri — handle international flights. The country’s main air gateway, Yerevan’s Zvartnots Airport, is under concession management by Armenia International Airports CJSC, owned by Argentine-Armenian businessman Eduardo Eurnekian.
Notably, after Western sanctions were imposed on Russia, Zvartnots Airport saw a significant increase in traffic due to rerouted European airline flights avoiding Russian airspace.
These factors contributed to a record rise in Armenia’s civil aviation metrics in 2023. Official statistics show a 46.7% increase in passenger traffic at Yerevan and Gyumri airports compared to the previous year, reaching 5.4 million passengers, far surpassing the 3.6 million handled in 2022.
