Flight Plans: Negotiations continue between State airlines a

[MosJan]

Flight Plans: Negotiations continue between State airlines and Belgium carrier

By Suren Deherian

ArmeniaWeek reporter

Will VG Airlines fly to Armenia, or will it not?

 

Three weeks ago the answer was yes. Now, things are up in the air as to whether the Belgium carrier will help solve Armenia’s air travel woes. (See related ArmeniaWeek story.)

 

A contract was proffered by VG on April 24 and the Department of Aviation was expected to sign the deal, making it possible for the airline’s Airbus A-330 to offer flights between Yerevan and Los Angeles (via Brussels), beginning May 26.

http://www.armeniaweek.com/may172002/photos/vg_1.jpg

Now, however, the agreement seems not so certain, as the DoA let the April 29 deadline pass without signing the contract.

 

“The reason why (DoA) refused to sign the contract lies in the fact that the Armenian side wants to research and scrutinize the market more carefully,” said Serge Manoukian, spokesperson for Armenian Airlines (the State airlines).

 

The contract is said to be less complex than the State’s agreement with Airbus Industries, the makers of the A-310 that had engine failure four months ago, requiring repairs that Armenian Airlines couldn’t afford to pay for. Still, officials are cautious and say they are scrutinizing each paragraph.

 

Part of the proposed contract assigns 100 of the A-330’s 240 seats to Armenian Airlines, for which AA would pay $103,000 per round-trip flight. With three flights per week proposed, Manoukian says it isn’t clear if the State airline could bear the $309,000 per week responsibility.

 

Ticket sales would be the primary source of revenue toward paying the obligation. Prices have not been proposed. British Airways, for example, charges from about $1,000 to about $1,200 per round trip flight to LA.

 

“It’s possible that this flight won’t be operated at all if the Armenian side isn’t satisfied with the conditions of the contract,” says Manoukian, adding that negotiations are underway to revise some of the financial conditions.

Photo from www.vg.be

 

©Copyright ArmeniaWeek May 17, 2002. all rights reserved. WWW.ARMENIAWEEK.COM is published by the FOURTH MILLENNIUM SOCIETY, publishers of ARMENIAN INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE. Articles may not be published without prior consent.

[MosJan]

so no more smoking AA was fine Smoke all you like j/k

 

Ara axper chen tornum eli mez lav zganq.

[MosJan]

Coming and Going: VG begins Yerevan service, AA cancels Frankfurt

By Suren Deherian

ArmeniaWeek reporter

As of this week, the State airline of Armenia has lost another flight to Europe, while a Belgian airline has begun operation of a twice-weekly Yerevan-Brussels-Los Angeles route.

 

Armenian Airlines will no longer fly to Frankfurt, Germany, further weakening the Government-owned carrier’s place in the European market where it has struggled since losing the service of its A-310 Airbus to engine failure six months ago.

 

Repairs of the Airbus proved too costly and Armenian Airlines has since sub-contracted TU-154Ms from Aeroflot, often paying operation penalties for leased craft that did not meet European environmental standards.

 

But while the local company struggles, VG Airlines of Belgium has begun operation of its LA flight, completing plans that have been negotiated for several months between the airline and the State Aviation Department of Armenia. The first flight from LA arrived Tuesday (July 2) with 170 passengers and picked up 60 for the return.

 

The 16-hour VG flight, plus an hour and a half refueling stop in Brussels, flies Tuesday and Thursday (currently costing about $1,000). The A-330 carrier has a seating capacity of 250.

 

The agreement with VG stipulates a $13,000 per flight landing fee paid to Zvartnots Airport, generating some $1.3 million a year in revenue for the State.

 

“This is the most direct connection with America and we all know very well what difficulties passengers face when they change different airports and planes,” says the head of the Aviation Department Hovhannes Yeritsian.

 

“For Armenia this is a new connection with Diaspora, that has been our dream and it has finally come true today.”

Photo From www.vg.be

 

©Copyright ArmeniaWeek July 05, 2002. all rights reserved. WWW.ARMENIAWEEK.COM is published by the FOURTH MILLENNIUM SOCIETY, publishers of ARMENIAN INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE. Articles may not be published without prior consent.