Armenia

Asia

2Airlines
0Profiled Airports
2With ICAO
1With Callsign

Aviation History

Armenia's civil aviation since independence has seen repeated flag-carrier turnover: Armenian Airlines (1991) gave way to Armavia (founded 1996, flying from 2001), which dominated the market before collapsing into bankruptcy in 2013. Subsequent attempts to re-establish a stable flag carrier, most recently the Air Arabia joint venture branded Fly Arna/Armenian National Airlines (2021-2024), have also failed, leaving Zvartnots International Airport served mainly by foreign and low-cost carriers — a situation that remains fluid.

Zvartnots International Airport near Yerevan takes its name from the nearby 7th-century Zvartnots Cathedral ruins.
1991
Armenian Airlines founded

Shortly after independence from the Soviet Union, Armenian Airlines is established as the country's first post-Soviet flag carrier.

1996
Armavia founded

Armavia is established as a new flag carrier, beginning commercial flights in 2001 and eventually eclipsing Armenian Airlines.

2006
Armavia Flight 967 crashes

An Armavia Airbus A320 crashes into the Black Sea near Sochi, killing all 113 aboard, Armenia's deadliest aviation accident.

2013
Armavia collapses

Armavia files for bankruptcy and suspends all operations after two years of financial losses, leaving Armenia without a functioning flag carrier.

2021
Fly Arna / Armenian National Airlines launched

A joint venture between Armenia's National Interests Fund (51%) and Air Arabia (49%) launches a new flag carrier based at Zvartnots.

2024
Armenian National Airlines ceases operations

The Air Arabia joint venture stops flying in January and enters liquidation, again leaving Armenia without a stable flag carrier.

Notable Carriers

Armavia (historical) · Armenian Airlines (historical) · Fly Arna / Armenian National Airlines (historical, ceased 2024) · FlyOne Armenia

Wikipedia, Simple Flying, Hetq — note: Armenia's flag-carrier situation has changed multiple times and its current status should be treated as volatile

Airlines2