It is necessary to immediately stop the "open skies" policy in Armenia, Dmitry Atbashyan, Head of the Civil Aviation Department of the Nagorno-Karabakh Government, has told ArmInfo.
He thinks that the country remains without aviation due to that policy. "Such a policy proves to be effective if the own civil aviation is competitive," he says. Atbashyan also points out the need to study this issue thoroughly.
To note, earlier a source close to the aviation circles of the country, told ArmInfo on condition of anonymity that the number of operating air carriers in Armenia has decreased from 35 to 27 since the launch of the "open skies" policy at the end of 2013. The source said that the "open skies" policy has been failed. It is quite likely that the number of airlines to operate in Armenia will keep decreasing. According to the expert, the "open skies" policy aimed at preventing the emergence of well-operating national airlines in the market. The expert believes it noteworthy that the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank have forced the "open skies" policy to Armenia with former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern as the policy's strident apologist.
To remind, on October 23, 2013 the Armenian government approved the programme implying provision of competitive and long- term air transportation services in the country. The program is based on a joint study of McKinsey & Company and National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia. The effect of the new policy appeared to be short-term. Nowadays there are as many airlines in Armenia as there were before the launch of the "open skies" policy.