The Nagorno-Karabakh needs an airport. Nagorno-Karabakh Republic General Department of Civil Aviation (NKR GDCA) Head Dmitri Adbashyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am. 

Reflecting on the economic aspects of operating the NKR capital city Stepanakert airport, he noted that the land route, whereby the cargo transfers and the passenger transportations are carried out, is very complex and long.     

In his words, because of the reliefs of Armenia and Karabakh, passenger transportation by air is much safer and cheaper. 

“In addition, there are also patients that should be kept motionless [during transfers],” Adbashyan said, and recalled that the roads become twice as more dangerous—and sometimes even impassable—in winter, as a result of snow and black ice. 

“In terms of the economic aspect, aviation is irreplaceable, in general. [If] there is no aviation, there is no economy [either],” the NKR GDCA head stated.