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    Jane Topchian
  • 12 months ago
    • Categories: 2023

Why Has Turkey Banned Business Jet Flights From Armenia?

Simple Flying
Nov 9 2023
BYNICOLE KYLIE
  •  The closure of Turkey’s airspace to Armenian carrier FlyOne signals a strained relationship between the two countries.
  •  Turkey imposed restrictions in response to the opening of the “Nemesis” monument in Yerevan, a memorial to fallen members of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation.
  •  This increases flight costs for airlines and business aviation operators, impacting connectivity, the air travel industry, and the tourism sector in Armenia.

On April 29, 2023, Turkey closed its airspace to FlyOne, an Armenian low-cost carrier, in what would begin a widespread air traffic ban on Armenian overflights. The airspace closure came without warning, yet the silence sent a clear message.

To decipher the reason behind this aerial exclusion, we have to take a look back at the turbulent history between these two nations, which is marred by complex and deeply rooted conflicts.

One of the most significant and tragic events in the countries’ shared history is the 1915 Armenian Genocide during World War I, where an estimated 1.5 million Armenians lost their lives under the rule of the Ottoman Empire (present-day Turkey). This event remains a point of contention: while 31 countries have recognized this as genocide, Turkey disputes the term used to describe this historical event.

The lack of official recognition and differing narratives (Turkey has challenged the Armenian depiction of the event’s circumstances and death toll) regarding this dark chapter continues to strain relations between the two nations.

In the week leading up to Turkey’s airspace closure, Armenia celebrated the opening of the “Nemesis” monument in Yerevan Ring Park. The towering shrine was erected as a memorial to fallen members of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, who carried out Operation Nemesis in 1921 to assassinate Ottoman perpetrators of the Armenian Genocide.

The Turkish government took offense to the monument and, in response, imposed an air travel restriction on overflights, disallowing Armenian carriers to operate to a third destination from Turkish airspace.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry, together with the country’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation, announced that it would not remove the airspace restriction until and unless Armenian officials order the removal of the monument.

While Turkey initially rescinded the ban on FlyOne’s flights, it later extended the restriction to private aircraft – an imposition that is still in place at the time of writing. Although Turkey has not officially issued NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen) confirming the unexplained ban on private aircraft, AIN Online reported that some operators have been forced to make technical stops in neighboring Georgia instead.

Given Turkey’s strategic geographic position, this action effectively cuts Armenia off from much of Europe. As a result, flights have no choice but to fly significantly further to travel around Turkish airspace, impacting operations, flight schedules, and passenger costs.

It is clear why Turkey decided to respond to the “Nemesis” monument in this way: the impact on airlines increases costs at the expense of passengers, which in turn negatively affects connectivity, Armenia’s air travel industry, and the wider tourism sector. As for business aviation operators, this inconvenience affects the plans and pockets of those often on tight schedules – perhaps even those with enough pull to have a say in the demolition of the “Nemesis.”

Sources: Reuters, Brookings, AIN Online

Jane Topchian: