MOSCOW-YEREVAN FLIGHTS MAY BE CARRIED OUT VIA AZERBAIJANI AIR SPACE?

Regnum, Russia
Oct 3 2006

Moscow-Yerevan flights may be carried out via Azerbaijani air space;
Armenian National Aviation Association President Dmitry Atbashyan is
quoted by a REGNUM correspondent as saying.

According to him, suspending air communication between Russia and
Georgia will not violate schedule of Armenian aviation carriers; the
Armenian side will fly to Russia without any changes or restrictions.

As for flights from Russia to Armenia, they will be carried out,
according to Mr. Atbashyan, making a detour around Georgia, what will
lead to increase of fuel expenditures. "For example, Moscow-Yerevan
flight will be carried out alongside route Moscow-Minvody, then, planes
will head for the south and, most probably, Russian aviation carries
will fly to Yerevan via Azerbaijan." According to Dmitry Atbashyan,
flight time will increase in such case by about half an hour.

Russia suspended its transport and postal services to Georgia later
on October 3 because of its "accounts receivable."