Armavia pilots go on strike

Armavia Air Company has stopped flights. The airline told Zhamanak daily on Friday that the flights did not take place due to the fact that the pilots were on strike. The airline added that all workers received their salary except several pilots who went on strike in protest. Also, Armavia promises to give back ticket money to passengers.

Source: panorama.am

Armavia stops operating flights earlier than announced

Armavia airline has stopped its flights earlier than announced. The airline has not operated any flight from Zvartnots International Airport today, the airport’s spokesman Gevorg Abrahamian said.
“Passengers gathered in the airport. They then realized that Armavia will not operate anymore and went to the head office of the company, demanding explanations,” Gevorg Abrahamian told the correspondent of Aysor.am. Our attempts to get information from a representative of Armavia failed.
Let us remind you that Armavia’s press service announced today that Armenia’s national carrier, Armavia airline, stops operating flights starting from April 1.
“At the moment the situation is such that it is impossible to work any longer. For that reason a decision was taken to stop flights and file for bankruptcy. The company expresses its gratitude to all its passengers, with whom it has worked for 12 years and wishes success to them”, was said in the statement of the airline.

Source: aysor.am

Armavia files for bankruptcy, to cease operations

Armenian carrier Armavia Airlines filed for bankruptcy and will cease flights April 1. The airline said it failed to cope with the 2008 world economic crisis.
“An Armavia owner (the local businessman Mikhail Baghdasarov) supported the airline at the other businesses expense,” the carrier said in a statement. “But now it is impossible to continue this way.”
In Nov. 2012 Bagdhasarov put Armavia up for sale and local media reported the owner was considering potential buyers from Russia, Australia and Italy. Baghdasarov said there were no Armenian businessmen in a position to buy the airline.
The airline’s fleet includes two Airbus A320s, three Bombardier CRJ200LRs and three Boeing 737-500s. Armavia was the first to take delivery of the Sukhoi Superjet 100 in 2011 but later returned the aircraft to the manufacturer, saying it was unsatisfied with its operational results. Later the carrier refused to take delivery of second SSJ100. The Sukhoi Civil Aircraft company said the decision was based on the carrier's poor financial condition and not related to the aircraft’s operational performance.
Nearly half of the Armavia network is concentrated in Russia and Ukraine and the airline also performs flights to Europe, Middle East and North Africa.

Source: atwonline.com

“Armavia” company stops its flights

“Armavia” national aviation company stops its service since April 1. The message by the company tells about this. The message especially says:
“Now it is impossible to work. That is why we have decided to stop the flights and start the process of bankruptcy. The company thanks all its costumers, who were with us for those 12 years”.
Remind that “Armavia” was found on 1996 and started to fulfill flights since 2001. Then it had only one airplane. In 2003 it got 3 more planes and on 2006 seven more planes. On 2007 it already had 14 planes.

Source: times.am

Armenia’s Armavia air company to halt flights and begin bankruptcy procedure

Armenia’s national air carrier, Armavia, said today it will halt flights from April 1 and will begin bankruptcy procedure, the company’s press office reports.  

It was said in the company’s press release that the 2008 global recession has wrecked many foreign air companies, particularly KUBAN, AEROSVIT, RED WINGS, AMERICAN AIRLINES, MALEV etc. 

“Aviation is an area where one shouldn’t be satisfied with what has already been achieved,” the press release says. “In recent tree years, the owner of Armavia invested money from other businesses into the air carrier, but things today leave no room for working this way. That is why it was decided to halt flights and start bankruptcy procedure.” 

The company’s press office also said that Armavia, which was established in 1996, started operating flights in 2001 possessing only one aircraft. The company added three other aircrafts to it in 2003 and seven in 2006. One year later, in 2007, Armavia already had 14 aircrafts in stock and operated 100 flights to more than 40 destinations in 20 countries.  

“Over a period between 2007 and 2010 the company has won a reputation for being a reliable partner carrying out its commitments properly,” the press release says. 

The company thanked all its passengers and wished them good luck. 

In November 2012, Mikhail Bagdasarov, president of MIKA Limited holding and owner of Armavia, voiced his intention to sell the company because of the economic crisis and the losses sustained from maintenance of Russia’s SuperJet. 

He said that there were Italian investors and businessmen from the East among potential purchasers.  

His license term expired on March 14, and no decision has come from the government so far to prolong it. 

Gagik Tsarukyan, a prominent entrepreneur and the leader of Prosperous Armenia party, was mentioned in Armenian media reports as likely purchaser. 

According to media reports, Bagdasarov intends to sell the air company for $50 million.

Source: arka.am

Armavia confirms bankruptcy rumors

Armavia Airline Company, which is Armenia’s national carrier, decided to suspend its flight as of April 1, the Company press release informs. 
“Over the course of three years, Armavia Company invested means from other businesses to maintain Armavia’s development. But the situation is such that there is no possibility to continue the work in this way, [and] therefore a decision is made to suspend the flights and to commence a process of bankruptcy.
“The company expresses its gratitude to all passengers, with whom it worked in all the twelve years, and wishes success.  
“The global economic and aviation crisis ‘destroyed’ many airlines,” Armavia’s press release reads in particular.

Source:  news.am

Armavia to return money for tickets

Armavia air company which has declared bankruptcy will return money for tickets, spokesperson for Armenian general department of civil aviation said.
Talking to Armenian News-NEWS.am correspondent, Nelly Cherhinyan said the company pledged to return the cost of tickets regardless of whether the tickets were bought from Armavia bracnhes or through ticket brokers.
On Friday Armavia decided to cancel the flights and announced decision to initiate bankruptcy proceedings.

Source:  news.am

Armavia cancels flights to Moscow, Krasnodar and Dubai

Armenia’s Armavia national carrier has already cancelled flights to Moscow, Krasnodar and Dubai. The company pledged to refund the price of the tickets.
“Armavia will possibly declare itself bankrupt due to the financial problems,” head of the General Department of the Civil Aviation Artyom Movsesyan earlier said, voicing skepticism over the government to extend the contract signed with the company.
The national carrier’s debts for securing air navigation services in Russia totals $288 000, a source in Russian aviation authorities told gazeta.ru.
Armavia issued a statement today, on March 28, announcing a decision to cease operations starting April 1, 2013.
“Armavia was established in 1996. It started operation of flights in 2001with only one aircraft. The company’s fleet was replenished with 3 planes in 2003, with 7 and 14 more planes in 2006 and 2007 respectively. However, many airline companies went bankrupt during the world economic and aviation crisis of 2008. Aviation is in need of continuous development. In the past three years, the owner of Armavia invested funds of other businesses to foster the development of the company. However, in the face of the current situation, the company resolved to halt the flights and start the bankruptcy proceedings. The company expresses gratitude to all its passengers and wishes them good luck,” Armavia’s press service said.

Source: panarmenian.net

Armavia airline stops operating flights starting from April 1st

Armenia’s national carrier, Armavia airline stops operating flights starting from April 1, the airline’s press service reported.
“At the moment the situation is such that it is impossible to work any longer. For that reason a decision was taken to stop flights and file for bankruptcy. The company expresses its gratitude to all its passengers, with whom it has worked for 12 years and wishes success to them”, is said in a statement of the airline.

Source: aysor.am

Armavia stops flights, prepares to file for bankruptcy

Armavia Air Company, Armenia’s national airline, will stop flights starting April 1, company’s press service reported.
“For now, the situation is that it is no longer possible to work and therefore it was decided to stop the flights and start the bankruptcy procedure. The airline thanks all its passengers with whom it has worked for 12 years and wishes them every success,” the press statement said.

Source: panorama.am

Gagik Tsarukian has no intention of buying Armavia

“The leader of BHK (Prosperous Armenia Party) Gagik Tsarukian has never had an intention of buying Armavia. This information is unfounded,” the correspondent of Aysor.am was informed by Tsarukian’s spokeswoman Iveta Tonoyan.
According to some press reports, Tsarukian intends to purchase Armavia. He tried to convince Armavia airline’s owner Baghdasarov to declare the company bankrupt and then sell it.
However, the government is against this move because the wage arrears will result in protests of company employees so the airline should be sold after solution of this problem.
It is also noteworthy that negotiations are now being conducted with two foreign companies: Vergin Atlantic and an Italian company, but Tsarukian’s intention impedes these negotiations.

Source: aysor.am

Hraparak: Tsarukian intends to purchase Armavia

“Hraparak” daily informs its readers about some details of the meeting between BHK Party leader Gagik Tsarukian and the owner of Armavia airline Mika Baghdasarov.
“Tsarukian intends to purchase Armavia. He tries to convince Baghdasarov to declare the company bankrupt and then sell it. But the government is against it because the wage arrears will result in protests of company employees so the airline should be sold after solution of this problem. By the way, negotiations are also being conducted with two foreign companies: Vergin Atlantic and an Italian company, but Tsarukian’s intention impedes these negotiations,” the paper writes.

Source: aysor.am

Гагик Царукян намерен купить авиакомпанию «Армавиа» - СМИ

Лидер партии «Процветающая Армения», крупный предприниматель Гагик Царукян и владелец авиакомпании «Армавиа» Михаил Багдасаров обсудили вопрос продажи национального авиаперевозчика, пишет газета «Грапарак».

По данным издания, Царукян намерен купить авиакомпанию и хочет уговорить Багдасарова объявить о ее банкротстве, после чего состоится сделка. Между тем, правительство Армении выступает против этого, поскольку долги по зарплате станут поводом для протеста сотрудников компании, поэтому продажа может быть осуществлена после решения вопросов с долгами. Как отмечается, Багдасаров ведет переговоры по данному вопросу также с двумя зарубежными компаниями - американской «Вирджин атлантик» и с одной итальянской, но планы Царукяна мешают этому.

В сентябре прошлого года «Армавиа» сообщила о том, что ведет переговоры о продаже компании (или части ее) с несколькими потенциальными инвесторами. Ранее владелец авиакомпании Михаил Багдасаров сообщил журналистам о том, что компания может объявить о банкротстве, передает ИА REGNUM.

Source: rus.azatutyun.am

Armenia’s government not clear on extending Armavia’s license period : press digest

The government of Armenia hasn’t decided yet over extension of Armavia company’s license period, according to an article published in Orakarg newspaper (Agenda) on Thursday.

Within the frames of the agreement signed on March 14, 2003, the government authorized Armavia, Armenia’s national air carrier, to operate flights to some particular destinations. 

Upon the expiration of the license period, General Department of Civil Aviation of Armenia should propose to the government to either extend the license period of the company or to announce a contest for air carriers to operate the flights to the  same destinations thus liberalizing the air traffic market.

“The government hasn’t decided yet whether to liberalize the air traffic market or to extend Armavia’s monopoly,” the newspaper says.

In addition, as of March 14 General Department of Civil Aviation of Armenia hasn’t submitted any proposals yet.

Armavia was established in 1996. In 2005, MIKA Limited President Mikhail Baghdasarov, one of Armenia’s most prominent entrepreneurs, became the sole owner of the company. Armavia operates more than 100 flights a week to 40 destinations in 20 countries. The company operates Airbuses, CRJs, Boeings and Russia-produced Sukhoi Superjets.

Source: arka.am

Beirut airport illegally refuses to receive Armavia’s plane

Beirut’s Airport illegally refuses to receive a plane of Armavia airline and the information that the problem is related to the plane is untrue, Aysor.am was informed by the press service of Armavia.
“The plane has no technical problems. It underwent a C-Check and has just returned from abroad. At the moment the Civil Aviation Department is dealing with the problem. We hope the problem will be solved soon and the passengers will fly to Beirut. Armavia is going to demand compensation from Beirut Airport for breaking the agreement,” the airline said.
Last night a Yerevan-Beirut flight was delayed. Some passengers had to spend the night in the airport, while others went home.


Source: Aysor.am