Zvartnoc (airport)

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Zvart'nots' Mijazgayin Odanavakayan (EVN/UDYZ) is an airport located near Zvartnoz. It is 12 km west of Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. The airport was built in 1971. It is the busiest airport in Armenia and the second busiest airport in the Caucasus region after Haidar Aliyev International Airport () in Baku, Azerbaijan. An open architectural design contest at the airport was held in 1970. The first prize was awarded to a team of architects including M. Kachukyan, A. Tarkanyan, S. Kjalasian, L. Cherkesian and structural engineer M. Bakhdasarian. Later the project was implemented as a reconstruction to the original design of the airport by H. Tigranjan and Arthur Meschen. The restructuring of the airport was carried out in 1980 with the construction of a new terminal to cover the needs of domestic traffic in the Union of Soviet socialist republics.

History

After Armenia declared its independence from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in 1990, the growth of freight flights led to the construction of a new cargo terminal in 1998, with about 100,000 tonnes of cargo per year passing through the terminal.

In 2001, a 30-year concession agreement was concluded for management at the airport with the International Airports of Armenia CJSC (Armenia International Airports CJSC), owned by the Argentinean company Corporation America, which is in turn owned by Armenian-Argentine businessman Eduardo Eurnekian. As part of this agreement International Airports Armenia CJSC reconstruct and expand the airport to meet tourism and trade between Asia and Europe.

The reconstruction and expansion of the airport began in 2004, with the new terminal opened on 1 June 2007, after 40 months of work. In addition, the Commission notes that the Commission considers that there is a need for State aid to be compatible with the internal market.

In 2014, 2 045 058 passengers and 10 409 aircraft passed through Zvartnoc International Airport, respectively 20.9% and 19.3% increase compared to the figures of the previous year.

The technical capabilities of the airport allow the landing of planes to and including Antonov An-124 Ruslan, Boeing 747 and Airbus A380.

The airport manager is Armenian-Argentin businessman Juan Pablo Gechijian.

On 30 January 2013, Zvartnoc International Airport was selected as the best airport in the Community of the independent countries during the emerging markets awards at Dubai airports, the United Arab Emirates.

In addition to national air carriers, the airport will also serve low-cost airlines, with flights starting in 2020 from the Armenian capital to Italy, Greece, Germany and Cyprus, as well as the

Extension
In 2004, the construction of a new international terminal of USD 100 million began. This investment covers an area of 19 200 m2 and can meet 2 million passengers per year. The terminal building is part of the 30-year concession agreement.
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