Thursday, September 11 2014

The Armenian air company Air Armenia
cannot be blamed for the debt to the Russian State Corporation for Organization
of the Air Traffic in Russia, as it arose because of technical problems,
Director of Air Armenia, Arsen Avetisyan, told Arminfo correspondent.

 

He said that according to the arrangement, Air Armenia
transferred currency in US dollars at the account in CMP Bank, which renders
services to the State Corporation for Organization of Air Traffic in Russia. However,
because of the Western sanctions against Russia linked with the events in
Ukraine, the US dollar transfers at the account in the bank were blocked and
did not reach the recipient.  So, Air
Armenia has arranged to make transfers in Russian rubles at the account in
another bank, Avetisyan said. 

 

He also added that the past-due-debt of Air Armenia is
$400 thsd and will be paid off till 21 September. The current debt will be
repaid according to the repayment schedule, he said. "The flight
navigation service of Air Armenia will not stop and let passengers and clients
of the company not worry", - Avetisyan said.

 

To note, Russian mass media referring to the
information of the State Corporation for Organization of the Air Traffic in
Russia, have disseminated inaccurate information, according to which starting
21 September Russia will stop rendering the flight navigation service to the
Air Armenia because of the debt, the total sum of which amounted to about  $1,1 million. The past-due-debt of Air
Armenia amounted to $400 thsd and the current debt - $700 thsd.

 

Air Armenia is a private
airline established in Armenian in 2003 and based at Yerevan Zvartnots Airport.
For 10 years since its foundation, Air Armenia operated only cargo flights,
except for a short period in 2003-2004 when it was contracted to operate
passenger flights. Upon liberalization of air passenger transportation policy
in Armenia in 2013, Air Armenia launched regular passenger services to Russia,
and is planning to expand to other destinations in the CIS and Europe.