POSSIBILITY OF THIRD AIRPORT NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED IN ARMENIA, PREMIER STATES
ARKA
Jan 30, 2009
YEREVAN, January 30. /ARKA/. RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan ordered
the consideration of possibilities of constructing a third airport
in Armenia.
"We need a new airport whose geographical location will not pose
any problems for pilots. It is also of importance for our country’s
security," the Premier said at the Government’s sitting that listened
to the ministries’ reports for 2008.
The Premier expressed his concern over the fact that Shirak airport
in Gyumri, Armenia, cannot receive planes from Europe because they
refuse to land there if the weather is bad in Yerevan. They prefer
landing in Georgia or in Turkey.
"We have to know what we need to have a third airport, which, on the
one hand, will meet the best international standards, with weather
changes considered on the other hand," Sargsyan said.
Chief of the Head Department of Civil Aviation Artyem Movsisyan
pointed out that the research of the climatic conditions will take
at least five years.
"The reason for the location of the airport is natural and artificial
obstacles, particularly the length of mountain range, wind direction
and visibility," Movsisyan said.
As regards the Shirak airport, he said that the representatives of
European airlines were twice invited and informed of the airport’s
potential during the certification process.
However, airlines did not wish to direct their planes to the Shirak
airport, considering it a high-level one, and the resultant obstacles
made them somewhat cautious, Movsisyan said.
He stressed that , as a signatory to an air agreement with the
countries in question, Armenia has no right to force their airlines
to land their planes at the Gyumri airport.
"The Shirak airport is capable of serving A-320-type planes,"
Movsisyan said.
The high-level airport Shirak in Gyumri is allocated 1,524 meters
above sea level. It has been operating since 1961.