Turkey Prohibits Armenian Companies from Flying in Its Airspace, Aviation Officials Comment on the Issue

The deputy director of Armenia Airlines, Gevorg Khachatryan, stated in an interview that Turkey is refusing to grant Armenian airlines access to its airspace. He added that throughout the six years of the airline's operation, its planes had been flying through Turkish airspace, while Turkish planes operated in Armenian airspace.

In March and April, the airline applied for permission to fly through Turkish airspace but received a rejection. 'At this moment, we are not flying through Turkish airspace, but negotiations are ongoing, and there seem to be some positive developments. We are hopeful that the issue will be resolved in the short term,' said the deputy director.

Turkey has prohibited planes registered in Armenia from entering its airspace since September 9 of last year, just days before the start of the 44-day war. There is no official document justifying Turkey's ban, but Armenian airlines have been receiving rejections without explanation.

Auroranews contacted David Sarukhanyan, head of the Civil Aviation’s Aircraft Certification and Air Traffic Organization Department. 'There has been no official statement from Turkey imposing any restrictions on Armenian airlines. Since there is no official announcement, we cannot take any action. However, I am aware that negotiations are ongoing and are in process,' Sarukhanyan stated.

He also addressed the question of why Armenia allows flights through its airspace, explaining that Armenia is guided by the principles of the Chicago Convention, according to which member states cannot arbitrarily close airspace, and therefore, Armenia's airspace is open to all.

Turkish Airlines has previously flown through Armenian airspace, as have we through Turkey's.