YEREVAN. - After the adoption of the open sky policy, new airline companies entered the Armenian market, and the former partners also returned.

Armenian Economy Minister Karen Chmaritian stated the aforementioned at the discussion on the activity of the General Department of Civil Aviation (GDCA) in 2015.

The mentioned airline companies are Qatar Airways, Aegean Airways, Georgian Airways, Iraqi Airways, Al Naser, Mahan Air, Middle East Airways, S7 Airlines and LOT. In 2015, the frequency of flights and passenger transportations increased by 3 and 11 percent respectively. As of December 2015, the number of companies carrying out flights to Yerevan reached 21.

GDCA head Artem Movsisyan informed that a state program on flight safety, which had been drawn out according to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, was approved by the Government. Moreover, the ICAO-led checks showed the high level of Armenia’s aviation services, he added.