Armenian National Airlines CJSC dba Fly Arna (Armenian: «Հայկական ազգային ավիաուղիներ» ՓԲԸ), styled as Fly Arna (Armenian: Ֆլայ Արնա), was an Armenian low-cost airline based in Yerevan, Armenia. It was a joint-venture between low-cost carrier Air Arabia and the Armenian government-owned Armenia National Interests Fund (ANIF).[2] Since 2021, it was the flag carrier of Armenia.[3]

Fly Arna
IATA ICAO Call sign
G6 ACY ARNA
Founded2021
Ceased operations2024
AOC #075
Operating basesZvartnots International Airport
Frequent-flyer programAirRewards
Fleet size3
Destinations5[1]
Parent companyAir Arabia
HeadquartersYerevan, Armenia
Key peopleAntony Price (CEO)
Websiteflyarna.com

In May 2024, it was reported that employees had been informed that the company had started liquidation proceedings following the government approved dissolution of the Armenia National Interests Fund (ANIF), a joint shareholder in the carrier.[4]

History

edit

Foundation

edit

The airline was created following a joint-venture agreement signed between Emirati carrier Air Arabia and the recently established Armenia National Interests Fund (ANIF) in July 2021.[5] 51% of the airline's shares are owned by ANIF and the remaining 49% by Air Arabia.

In May 2022, the airline received its Air Operator's Certificate and added its first aircraft.[6] The airline has selected the Airbus A320 aircraft to build its fleet, in order to maintain fleet commonality with its parent airline, Air Arabia.

The airline commenced operations with flights to Hurghada on July 3, 2022, and to Sharm El Sheikh on July 4, 2022.[7][8] The airline has announced plans to commence flights to Kuwait and Beirut as the next destinations, continuing with its plans to connect the Middle East with Armenia.

In January 2023, the company announced that it would start flights to the Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow and to the Pulkovo Airport in Saint Petersburg.[9] The company announced also plans to operate flights to India, through flights from Yerevan to Delhi and Mumbai. The company also intends to operate flights to Sharjah, UAE.[10]

Suspension

edit

In January 2024, the company suspended all flights. The company announced that they are undergoing operational revisions and would resume flights in due course.[11][12] The company's license was suspended in March 2024. The company is required to obtain adequate aircraft within six months in order for the suspension to be lifted.[13]

Destinations

edit
Country City Airport Notes Refs
  Armenia Yerevan Zvartnots International Airport Hub
  Egypt Sharm El Sheikh Sharm El Sheikh International Airport
  Georgia Tbilisi Tbilisi International Airport
  Iran Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport [14]
  Iraq Baghdad Baghdad International Airport
  Kuwait Kuwait City Kuwait International Airport [15]
  Russia Moscow Moscow Domodedovo Airport
Vnukovo International Airport [16]
Sochi Sochi International Airport
Saint Petersburg Pulkovo Airport

Fleet

edit
Aircraft In service Orders Passengers Notes
C Y Total
Airbus A320-200 3[citation needed] - 174 174

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "FlyArna on ch-aviation". ch-aviation. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  2. ^ "Fly Arna: Armenia's national airline unveils visual brand identity".
  3. ^ Prisco, Jacopo (2024-02-27). "The world's smallest flag carrier airlines". CNN. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
  4. ^ https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/140654-armenias-flyarna-parent-holding-enter-liquidation [bare URL]
  5. ^ "Air Arabia's Armenian budget airline Fly Arna is heading for a late May launch". gulfnews.com. 14 January 2022.
  6. ^ "Armenia's FlyArna adds first aircraft, obtains AOC". chaviation.com.
  7. ^ "Armenia's new national carrier Fly Arna plans to launch flights late May". armenpress.am. 14 January 2022.
  8. ^ Kaminski-Morrow2022-01-14T22:35:00+00:00, David. "Armenian joint-venture start-up Fly Arna unveils livery". Flight Global.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ "Fly Arna Expands Moscow Flights From Jan 2023". AeroRoutes. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
  10. ^ "Destinations | Fly Arna". www.flyarna.com.
  11. ^ "Fly Arna Airlines has suspended flights". news.am. February 6, 2024.
  12. ^ Dunn2024-01-29T19:04:00+00:00, Graham. "Armenia's Fly Arna suspends flights". Flight Global.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ "Armenia official: Fly Arna airline's license is suspended due to lack of aircraft".
  14. ^ "Fly Arna announces Yerevan-Tehran flights". 22 June 2023.
  15. ^ "Fly Arna announces Yerevan-Kuwait flights". 29 May 2023.
  16. ^ Tore, Iuliia (19 June 2023). "Fly Arna to Launch Flights from Yerevan to Moscow". RusTourismNews. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
edit