YEREVAN. – Armenia must change its “open skies policy,” economist and Armenian Institute of International and Security Affairs associate analyst Ashot Yeghiazaryan told Armenian News-NEWS.am. He stated this reflecting on the most recent sharp increase in airplane ticket prices in Armenia.

To the remark that, taking advantage of the fact that the Upper Lars motorway—which crosses the Georgia-Russia border and leads to Armenia—is closed at present, Russian airlines have raised ticket prices twofold, Yeghiazaryan said: “Russian companies are used to working this way. To be free of this situation, Armenia should have changed [its] ‘open skies policy,’ by signing and joining the European Common Aviation Area. Hence, Armenia’s skies would join this large common economic zone, and perhaps become a part of important air corridors.”

In his words, the “open skies policy” creates grounds solely for switching to another level of integration.

As per Ashot Yeghiazaryan, in the same way, the European Union (EU) stands ready to accept Armenia’s products to its markets and without customs duties, but Armenia cannot ensure the relevant standards.

“And it is possible to ensure it solely by integration into the EU economic zone,” he added. “[And] the same applies to the skies.”