Syunik Airport in Southern Armenia Aims for International Status

Currently, Syunik Airport in Kapan exclusively operates domestic flights, providing a crucial one-hour aerial link between the southern region and Armenia's capital, Yerevan. These flights are operated by NovAir using an L-410 Turbolet aircraft. According to Karen Vardanyan, the airport's director and head of the airline, flight cancellations occur only due to severe weather conditions, as state-of-the-art navigation equipment has already been installed in cooperation with Air Traffic Services.

High Demand and Subsidized Financing

The demand for passenger transport is high, with tickets selling out rapidly. As of April 2025, flights operate five times a week, with double daily flights already launched on Mondays and Fridays. Based on current growth trends, the schedule may soon transition to a double daily flight regime every day of the week. With its current infrastructure, the airport can process up to 50 passengers per hour.

A one-way ticket costs 20,000 dram (approximately 55 dollars). Vardanyan emphasizes that this is purely a social project rather than a commercial business venture. A round trip on the Yerevan-Kapan-Yerevan route consumes about 500 kg of fuel, costing nearly 400,000 dram. This affordable ticket price is maintained through subsidies provided by the Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine, one of the largest corporate taxpayers in the Syunik region.

Prospects for International Flights

To transform the airport into a profitable business venture and drive regional development, active negotiations are underway with the Armenian government to launch international flights. During its reconstruction and subsequent reopening in 2023, the original Soviet-era runway, which was 1,450 meters long, was extended to 1,750 meters. This upgrade allows the facility to accommodate larger aircraft.

• The airport will be able to receive ATR-72 aircraft, which can carry up to 72 passengers.
• Potential international destinations being considered include southern Russia, neighboring Georgia, and Iran.
• Meeting international aviation standards will require additional investments and certifications.

"It is necessary to introduce a range of new services, including customs and border control, as well as to establish appropriate checkpoints at the airport," Vardanyan noted in a statement to armenpress.am.