Fly Arna

Wikipedia

Fly Arna
IATA ICAO Call sign
G6 ACY ARNA
Founded2021
Ceased operationsJanuary 2024
AOC #075
Operating basesZvartnots International Airport
Frequent-flyer programAirRewards
Fleet size3
Destinations5[1]
Parent companyAir Arabia
HeadquartersYerevan, Armenia
Key peopleAntony Price (CEO)
Websiteflyarna.com

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] From 2021 to 2024, it was the flag carrier of Armenia.[3]

The airline ceased operations on January 2024. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced in March 2024 that FlyArna has failed and announced plans to liquidate the airline. In May 2024, the Armenian government approved the dissolution of the Armenian National Interest Fund (ANIF) and the airline begain liquidation proceedings.[4]

History

Foundation

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 also announced plans to operate flights to India, through flights from Yerevan to Delhi and Mumbai as well as flights to Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.[10]

Suspension

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]

Dissolution

In March 2024, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that FlyArna has failed and announced plans to liquidate the airline. In May 2024, the Armenian government approved the dissolution of the Armenian National Interest Fund (ANIF) and the airline begain liquidation proceedings. The airline returned both of its A320-200s to the other 49% shareholder, Air Arabia.[4]

Destinations

Fly Arna operated scheduled flights to the following destinations:[citation needed]

Country City Airport Notes Refs
ArmeniaYerevanZvartnots International AirportHub
EgyptSharm El SheikhSharm El Sheikh International Airport
GeorgiaTbilisiTbilisi International Airport
IranTehranImam Khomeini International Airport[14]
IraqBaghdadBaghdad International Airport
KuwaitKuwait CityKuwait International Airport[15]
RussiaMoscowMoscow Domodedovo Airport
Vnukovo International Airport[16]
Sochi Sochi International Airport
Saint Petersburg Pulkovo Airport

Fleet

The Fly Arna fleet consisted of the following aircraft:[citation needed]

Aircraft In service Orders Passengers Notes
C Y Total
Airbus A320-200 3 174 174
Total 3

See also

References

  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. 1 2 "Armenia's FlyArna, parent holding enter liquidation". ch-aviation. 27 May 2024.
  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-Morrow, David (2022-01-14). "Armenian joint-venture start-up Fly Arna unveils livery". Flight Global.
  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. Dunn, Graham (2024-01-29). "Armenia's Fly Arna suspends flights". Flight Global.
  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.