Today, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited the Civil Aviation Committee of the Republic of Armenia, where he got acquainted with the performance report 2022 of the department.

Deputy Prime Ministers Mher Grigoryan and Tigran Khachatryan, Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Gnel Sanosyan, Head of the State Supervision Service Romanos Petrosyan, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister Bagrat Badalyan, Deputy Minister of Finance Vahan Sirunyan, Chairman of the Civil Aviation Committee Mihran Khachatryan, the committee's leadership, other officials took part in the consultation.

The Prime Minister was reported on the works carried out in the sector, structural and systemic problems and challenges, as well as the prospects of the sector's development. Issues related to the activities carried out in the direction of the main functions of the Civil Aviation Committee - regulation, certification and supervision - were discussed.

In connection with the regulation and supervision of the field of air transport, it was reported that legal acts were adopted in order to ensure the compliance of Armenia’s legislation with its international agreements and international standards and proposed practices and procedures published by international organizations. In order to continuously ensure the quality of the works and services provided in the field of flight, aviation safety, and air transportation, public supervision activities were carried out through inspections and studies.

Details were presented regarding "Zvartnots" and "Shirak" international airports, "Erebuni" and "Syunik" airports, as well as air operating companies of the Republic of Armenia. According to the report, as of December 31, 2022, there are 9 airlines operating in the Republic of Armenia with an air operator's certificate, 5 of which have a certificate for regular commercial air transportation. In 2021, the number of foreign airlines entering the Armenian market was 7, and 9 in 2022. 35 airlines operate flights to and from the Republic of Armenia in 45 destinations. There are regular flights from the Republic of Armenia to around 23 countries and 45 cities. Passenger transportation rate of the airports of the Republic of Armenia ("Zvartnots", "Shirak" airports) was 2 million 400 thousand 351 in 2021, and in 2022 - 3 million 698 thousand 256. The increase was 54 percent. Passenger transportation by local airlines ("Zvartnots", "Shirak" airports) was 269,087 in 2021, and in 2022 - 916,257, that is, 25 percent of the total passenger transportation was carried out by Armenian airlines. During the previous year, around 500 new jobs were created in the aviation sector.

Next, the structural and systemic reforms planned in the sector were addressed. In particular, it was noted that as a result of the structural changes to be implemented, it is expected to increase supervision in the field that meets international standards, to attract qualified specialists as a result of cooperation with international partners. It was reported that consistent efforts are made to get off the European Union's flight safety "blacklist". For this purpose, re-certification of Armenian airlines, training of specialists and a number of other activities are planned.

As for the development prospects of the Civil Aviation, the works carried out in a number of directions were highlighted, in particular, the programs aimed at the introduction of a new electronic system (Q-Pulse) aimed at increasing the efficiency of supervision, training of teachers and instructors of aviation subjects. Steps will be taken to develop existing aviation training centers and create new aviation training centers in accordance with modern and international standards, to develop general aviation and small aviation, to develop domestic passenger and cargo transportation and to restore operation of domestic airports (Stepanavan, Goris), as well as support for the development of international cargo transportation. Reference was also made to the chances of operating Kapan airport and the works to be carried out in that direction.

Prime Minister Pashinyan emphasized the importance of the development of the aviation sector and emphasized the need for effective and consistent implementation of works in all the above-mentioned directions. In this regard, the Prime Minister gave a number of instructions.