Discussions to Begin on Internationalizing Kapan Airport

The Republic of Armenia's Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure will start discussions with the shareholders of Kapan's "Syunik" airport with the aim of internationalizing the facility. This information was provided to Sputnik Armenia by the ministry in response to a request for comments on the plans announced during the government session on January 22.

During the government meeting, changes to the concession agreement with the company "Corporacion America," owned by Argentine-Armenian billionaire Eduardo Eurnekian, concerning Armenia's international airports were approved.

Currently, Kapan Airport only serves domestic flights between Yerevan and Kapan and vice versa. The ministry noted that projects regarding the airport's international status are in the earliest stages, and working discussions with shareholders have not yet started. Therefore, it is unclear how much additional investment will be required for border control, runways, and other components, and when these might be implemented.

According to the previously operative contract, "Corporacion America" had the right of first refusal to extend the concession to any new international airport in Armenia within a 250 km radius of "Zvartnots." Since this radius is calculated in a direct air line, it encompassed almost the entire territory of the country. Based on this, the concessionaire took over the management of Yerevan's "Zvartnots" in 2001 and subsequently gained control over Gyumri's "Shirak" Airport in 2007.

With the latest changes to the concession agreement, the aforementioned provision has been annulled. According to the ministry's clarification, this was done to enable discussions aimed at internationalizing Kapan Airport without conceding it to the current concessionaire.