GEORGIAN-ARMENIAN AVIATION PARTNERSHIP

Lragir.am
03 April 06

In May Armavia will start scheduled flights Yerevan-Tbilisi-Amsterdam
and Yerevan-Tbilisi-London. The owner of Armavia Mikhail Baghdasarov
says they had reached an arrangement with Georgian airlines.

“When the flights to these European cities are from Armenia or Georgia,
passengers are few, but together flights become profitable,” says
Mikhail Baghdasarov. Armavia will also have scheduled flights together
with a more authoritative company, Air France. Three times a week,
Yerevan-Paris-Yerevan and Paris-Yerevan-Paris.

“Partnership with an authoritative company improves our image.

Air France is not our rival, it is our partner,” says the owner of
Armavia. In the nearest future he plans to have scheduled flights to
Beijing, Delhi, Los Angeles. Baghdasarov is hopeful that the first
flight to Los Angeles will be in 2006. Armavia is now looking for a
new aircraft for the transatlantic flight.

“We have opened an office in America. We have negotiated and everything
is alright. With regard to flights to America, you know, the most
complicated problem is safety. Our company was checked for safety,
and we have complied with all the standards of security,” says Mikhail
Baghdasarov. According to him, the only problem is profitability of
the scheduled flight.

“I would prefer a Yerevan-New York-Los Angeles scheduled flight.

But there is a problem of profitability. Therefore, the scheduled
flight Yerevan-Amsterdam-Los Angeles is preferable, because in
Amsterdam there will be a number of passengers leaving for Los
Angeles,” says Mikhail Baghdasarov. According to him, only in the
month of February Armavia suffered losses of 600 thousand dollars.

Mikhail Baghdasarov says, however, that the reason is the season,
which is the problem of all the airlines. “The best time for airlines
is summer,” says Baghdasarov. He mentions that Armavia suffers
losses in all European directions, but the other scheduled flights
are profitable.

“Usually, airlines in the world receive state subsidies. Such as,
Lufthansa, Air France and other famous airlines. An airline is the
so-called continuation of the foreign ministry. When the plane lands
in a country, it is like an ambassador. Its condition creates an
impression of the country,” says Mikhail Baghdasarov.

THE STORY OF AN AIRCRAFT

The negotiations between Armavia and the Armenian International
Airlines were fruitless. And the talks were for an aircraft, the Airbus
of the Armenian International Airlines. The Armenian International
Airlines is not carrying out flights, and Airbus is idle, whereas
for the owner of the Armenian International Airlines Versand Hakobyan
the Airbus is even a burden.

“We want to offer help to Versand and rent the Airbus,” says Mikhail
Baghdasarov. But Versand does not seem to have appreciated our help. He
demanded too high a price for a 10-year-old aircraft than Armavia pays
for the new Airbus. “The price offered by Versand is much higher than
the aircrafts we are renting now, more by 600 dollars per an hour of
flight,” says Mikhail Baghdasarov.

PILOTS AGAINST FOG

They offer a salary of 10 thousand dollars to Armenian pilots in
Dubai. In Kazakhstan they are offered 7 thousand dollars. The owner
of Armavia Mikhail Baghdasarov says they intend to raise the salary
of the pilots of the company to prevent them from leaving abroad.

“We want to pay a higher salary to our pilots, to prevent them from
leaving the company for they receive good offers from abroad,” says
Mikhail Baghdasarov. According to him, Armenian pilots are demanded
abroad, because conducting an Airbus is requires great skills, and
top-level Airbus pilots are highly demanded. Our pilots not only
have high skills but they are improving. Armavia is going to send
its pilots abroad for qualification and get the second degree. Such
a pilot can land in the thickest fog, says Mikhail Baghdasarov.