Author: News Author

Direct Air Links Between Armenia and Kazakhstan Expand

In mid-April 2026, Armenia and Kazakhstan marked a significant milestone in aviation connectivity. Airlines launched two new regular routes linking Yerevan with Kazakhstan’s capital Astana and the Caspian coastal city of Aktau.

Aktau to Yerevan: Service Begins April 18

Kazakh carrier SCAT Airlines started regular flights on the Aktau-Yerevan-Aktau route on April 18, 2026. The airline operates flights twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, using Boeing 737 aircraft.

“SCAT Airlines added this new route to expand its international network,” said a company spokesperson.

The direct connection from Aktau gives residents of the Caspian region easier access to Armenia for tourism and business travel.

Astana to Yerevan: Shirak Avia Launches New Service

Armenian airline Shirak Avia began regular flights on the Yerevan-Astana-Yerevan route on April 20, 2026. The carrier operates one flight per week, every Monday.

This route marks the first direct regular service between the two capitals in recent years. Travelers now enjoy simpler logistics for diplomatic missions, business meetings, and leisure trips.

Transport Cooperation Grows Stronger

Transport ministers from Kazakhstan and Armenia held talks that led to these new flights. Both sides identified restoring air links on these routes as a priority for strengthening bilateral relations.

Benefits for Passengers

• Direct flights save time and reduce travel costs
• Convenient schedules: Aktau flights run twice weekly, Astana flights run weekly
• Tourism grows as travelers gain easier access to cultural and natural attractions in both countries
• Business ties expand with reliable air connectivity

What Comes Next

Airlines plan to increase flight frequency if passenger demand rises. Industry sources also report discussions about launching additional routes. FlyOne Armenia may start Yerevan-Almaty service as early as June 2026.

Passengers should check current schedules and ticket availability on the official websites of SCAT Airlines and Shirak Avia, or through authorized ticket platforms.

Expanding air connectivity between Armenia and Kazakhstan strengthens economic, cultural, and tourism ties across the Eurasian region.

Local flights on the Yerevan–Kapan–Yerevan route resumed on March 31, according to Armenia’s Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure.

“Flights will operate five times a week,” wrote David Khudatyan, Armenia’s Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, on his Facebook page.

The Syunik Airport remained idle for about 30 years. Authorities later renovated it in line with international standards and certified it through the Civil Aviation Committee of Armenia in 2020. In September 2023, the airport received its three-letter code (identifier) — YUK.

On August 21, 2023, NorAir launched regular flights between Yerevan and Kapan. A one-way ticket costs 20,000 drams (about $50).

Starting September 3, 2025, the airline temporarily suspended flights between Yerevan and Kapan for aircraft maintenance to ensure safety and comfort.

Kapan is a 43 thousand people town in southeast Armenia, serving as the capital of Syunik Province. The famous Tatev Monastery is situated in the same province and it is only one hour drive from Kapan.

Changes to visa regulations were discussed by Lusine Gevorgyan, Chair of the Armenian Tourism Committee, and Simonida Kordić, Montenegro’s Minister of Tourism.

At the meeting, held as part of the ITB Berlin 2026 international exhibition, issues of bilateral tourism cooperation were discussed, including changes to visa regulations, tourism statistics, and the latest developments in the industry.

The use of digitalization tools and AI was addressed, as well as opportunities for cooperation within the framework of international exhibitions, festivals, and other events.

The importance of launching direct flights to Tivat in 2026 was emphasized, as this will contribute to the growth of tourist flows.

The Armenian side presented a draft memorandum of cooperation in the field of tourism aimed at deepening bilateral ties and the sustainable development of tourism.

Regarding the decision of the Montenegrin Cabinet
In October 2025, Montenegro suspended visa-free entry for citizens of Armenia and several other countries as part of its commitments to prepare for EU accession. Previously, Armenian citizens could visit Montenegro without a visa for short-term tourist purposes.

Citizens of Montenegro do not need a visa to travel to Armenia; they may stay in the Republic of Armenia for up to 180 days.

Armenia plans to strengthen its tourism sector by developing several key niches, including medical tourism, eco-tourism, and religious tourism, according to Lusine Gevorgyan, head of the country’s Tourism Committee.

Medical Tourism Conference and New Digital Platform

Gevorgyan said that in January Armenia will host a conference on medical tourism organized jointly with the United Nations. Representatives from countries with strong medical tourism industries are expected to attend.

“These countries welcome hundreds of thousands of medical tourists every year,” Gevorgyan said.

She noted that medical tourism covers many areas of healthcare. Therefore, Armenia is developing digital tools that will help travelers find affordable and high-quality medical services.

A new online platform, med.am, will soon launch. It will allow visitors to search for certified doctors in plastic and aesthetic surgery as well as other medical specialties. In addition, users will be able to connect with insurance providers and tour operators, making it easier to plan medical trips to Armenia.

Strong Potential for Eco and Religious Tourism

At the same time, Armenia also sees strong potential in eco-tourism and religious tourism, Gevorgyan said.

Many international visitors do not realize that Armenia became the first country in the world to adopt Christianity as a state religion in 301 AD. As a result, authorities plan to develop tourism products that highlight the country’s historic monasteries, pilgrimage routes, and natural landscapes.

International Promotion and Domestic Tourism Development

The Tourism Committee also emphasizes the importance of promoting Armenia at international tourism exhibitions and platforms.

Meanwhile, the government is working to strengthen domestic tourism. The program includes:

• improving tourism infrastructure in the regions
• launching educational grant programs in tourism
• creating a digital database of tour operators

In addition, the Tourism Committee plans to introduce certification for tour operators and launch a rating system to improve service quality.

Expanding the Tourist Experience

Under the new strategy, tour guides will be encouraged to offer more diverse travel experiences. For example, tours may include:

• visits not only to churches but also to Armenia’s natural attractions
• tastings of local cuisine
• immersive cultural activities

According to Gevorgyan, these initiatives will help extend tourists’ stays in the country.

Armenia Tourism Strategy 2026–2030

In January, the Armenian government approved the Tourism Development Strategy for 2026–2030. The program aims to address long-standing industry challenges and coordinate reforms, including legislative changes.

In particular, the strategy focuses on practical improvements such as:

• upgrading roads to tourist sites
• improving cleanliness standards
• expanding tourist infrastructure, including public restrooms
• raising overall service quality

If the program succeeds, Armenia aims to achieve the following goals by 2030:

• increase international tourist arrivals to 3 million
• reach 4.5 million domestic trips
• boost tourism spending to $3.8 billion
• create 20,000 new jobs in the tourism sector

The strategy highlights priority segments such as cultural, gastronomic, and adventure tourism. At the same time, it supports the development of agro-tourism, MICE tourism, religious tourism, medical tourism, and wellness travel.

According to official statistics, 2,263,642 tourists visited Armenia in 2025, which represents a 2.5% year-on-year increase.

Starting May 2, 2026, direct flights between Yerevan and Riga are set to launch. The Latvian national carrier airBaltic will operate the route, according to Armenia’s Tourism Committee.

---

Officials discussed the new Yerevan–Riga direct flights during a meeting between Lusine Gevorgyan, Head of the Tourism Committee of Armenia, and Edite Medne, Ambassador of Latvia to Armenia.

Both sides welcomed the launch of nonstop air service, noting that it will boost bilateral tourism, strengthen business ties, and improve connectivity between Armenia and Latvia.

Participants also reviewed opportunities to expand tourism cooperation and organize joint events ahead of the first scheduled flight. The meeting included Armen Gasaboglyan, Honorary Consul of Latvia in Armenia.

Chair of the RA Tourism Committee Lusine Gevorgyan spoke about plans to launch direct flights to Armenia from Beijing and Shanghai.

---

“A memorandum of understanding has been signed with one of the Armenian airlines. It is currently negotiating with two major Chinese carriers to launch new flights between Armenia and China in June,” she said in an interview with CivilNet.

According to Gevorgyan, the annual growth in the number of tourists from China to Armenia reached 37%, amounting to about 45,000 visitors. “And this is despite the fact that currently, direct flights to our country are available only from the industrial city of Urumqi,” the head of the agency noted.

She added that Chinese tourists often take advantage of regional travel packages, joining group tours to the countries of the South Caucasus.

The launch of direct flights between Yerevan and London in June 2026 was discussed on Tuesday by Armenia’s Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure and the British Ambassador to Armenia.

The launch of direct flights between Yerevan and London in June 2026 was discussed on Tuesday by Armenia’s Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure David Khudatyan and British Ambassador to Armenia Alexandra Cole.

The interlocutors emphasized the importance of launching this air route, which will further develop relations between the two countries in both the trade and economic spheres and in the field of tourism.

“I emphasized the importance of the steady development of relations between Armenia and the United Kingdom. In turn, the ambassador noted that Armenian-British relations are at the level of a strategic partnership,” Khudatyan wrote on his Facebook page.

The minister and the ambassador discussed infrastructure programs. Khudatyan said that his ministry is implementing a major infrastructure program and expressed hope that British companies will participate in these projects and international tenders.

They also touched upon the Armenian government’s “Crossroads of the World” initiative.

Armenia has denied reports about an alleged ban on flights operated by low-cost carrier Wizz Air.

---

The Tourism Committee of Armenia rejected recent claims suggesting that the airline’s flights had been suspended due to technical aircraft issues. Officials stated that these reports are not true.

The Committee also noted that, according to the international organization AirlineRatings, Wizz Air ranks among the world’s 50 safest airlines and is listed in the top 10 safest low-cost carriers globally.

Wizz Air in Armenia

On October 1, 2025, Wizz Air officially opened its 34th base at Zvartnots International Airport.

Since launching its first flight to Armenia in 2020, the airline has carried more than 2.6 million passengers. It currently operates 16 routes to nine countries using two aircraft based in Yerevan.

In December 2025, Armenia welcomed 139,933 tourists. By comparison, the country received 130,148 visitors in December 2024.

Overall, 2,263,642 tourists traveled to Armenia in 2025. In the previous year, from January to December 2024, the figure stood at 2,208,179, according to the Tourism Committee.

During 2025, most visitors came from Russia, Georgia, and Iran. Russia ranked first with 921,704 visitors, accounting for 41% of the total. Georgia followed with 258,858 visitors, or 13%. Meanwhile, Iran ranked third with 182,364 visitors, or 8%.

Looking ahead, the Armenian government has adopted a Strategic Tourism Development Program for 2026–2030. Under this plan, officials aim to increase annual tourist arrivals to 3 million.

According to the publication, the country, set in the rugged Caucasus Mountains, has attracted hiking and nature enthusiasts for decades. Recently, however, tourist numbers have grown rapidly.

---

Against this backdrop, Yerevan will host the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles in May. This event ranks among the world’s leading wine competitions. In addition, Armenia offers deep winemaking traditions that date back more than 6,000 years. As a result, wine lovers can explore four main wine regions across the country.

Beyond wine tourism, the article highlights several natural attractions. For example, Lake Sevan sits high in the mountains and features monasteries that date back nearly a thousand years. Meanwhile, Dilijan National Park offers alpine meadows, dense forests, and mineral springs. A wide network of hiking trails connects these landscapes.

Furthermore, the park protects rare and endangered plant species. It also supports wildlife such as brown bears, wolves, and European wildcats.