Kapan Airport May Serve International Flights in the Future, Says Airport Director

Considering Kapan's geographical position, the relief of the area, and the distance from Yerevan, the functioning of the "Syunik" Airport has significantly facilitated the connection between the regional center and the capital, making communication easier, which is a serious boost for the development of the economy and tourism. This was stated by the director of the "Syunik" airport, Karen Vardanyan, during a conversation with journalists.

He assured that the management of Kapan Airport is paying proper attention to safety, reminding that during the initial phase of the airport's re-operation, there were certain incidents when the work was obstructed by Azerbaijani positions located nearby. However, currently, no incidents are recorded, and there are no circumstances hindering the airport's operation. Flights are conducted exclusively over the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia, and there are no problems in terms of flight safety.

"Currently, there is a high demand for flights. In the past month, many people have even been unable to purchase tickets as they sell out quickly. We do not have a question of involving additional fleets at this moment because it depends on various factors, primarily the financial aspect. Considering that the Kapan-Yerevan flight is fully subsidized by the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine, it may not be very profitable as a pure business project, but as a social program, it is completely relevant and in demand. We are an open institution and are ready to cooperate with all interested parties," said the airport director.

Vardanyan reported that flights commenced in August 2022, initially operating two flights weekly, with the aircraft leaving half-empty, but later the frequency of flights increased, and aircraft occupancy exceeded 90 percent. The director assured that the airport has significant development potential and may even serve international flights in the future. There is already a noticeable increase in foreign tourists in the passenger flow.

"When we were conducting the first flights, most of the passengers were our partners, employees of the ZPMK. Initially, there were some opinions regarding safety, but I, my family members, and relatives have shown by personal example that there are no problems, and we can safely conduct flights. The progress is as follows: over time, our citizens started to use the airport's services, followed by foreign tourists who gained confidence in our operations. Now there is high demand from both sides. There are many programs, and if there is appropriate funding, development will be further stimulated. We have already reached a point where there is established demand," Vardanyan elaborated.

Flights at the "Syunik" airport are carried out with the L-410UVP-E20 aircraft, which accommodates 17 passengers. The ticket price is 20,000 drams. Five flights are conducted weekly. In addition to regular flights, charter flights are also organized, where the clients represent various social groups, from individuals to business sector representatives across different social strata. The aircraft undergoes regular maintenance checks since proper technical servicing and safety assurance are paramount. Due to preventive inspections, there may sometimes be temporary delays between flights. The next technical inspection is scheduled for September. The airport staff currently consists of 40 people, most of whom are locals, with some specialized professionals from Yerevan as well.