Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has expressed expectations for Turkish airlines to launch flights to Gyumri, Armenia's second-largest city. This move is viewed as a significant step within the framework of the ongoing efforts to normalize relations between Armenia and Türkiye.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, citing Armenian media reports, Pashinyan made these remarks during a briefing while addressing questions regarding the normalization process. The Prime Minister noted that he remains hopeful for the commencement of these flights in the near future. He also reminded that Turkish Airlines has already been operating regular flights on the Istanbul-Yerevan-Istanbul route since March of this year.
The normalization of relations between Ankara and Yerevan has seen gradual progress following the 2020 conflict in the region. While land borders currently remain closed to the general public, both nations have appointed special representatives to facilitate the opening of borders and the establishment of full diplomatic ties. The potential expansion of air travel to Gyumri follows the restoration of direct air cargo trade and existing passenger flights between the two countries, reflecting a cautious de-escalation of regional tensions and an attempt to rebuild economic and transport links.
