31 January 2011, 22:00
Equipping of airport completed in Stepanakert
The construction works at the new airport in the capital of Nagorno-Karabakh are nearing completion. Now, the equipment is being installed; in April they will bring in furniture; and in May they plan to receive the first aircraft.
As reported by Dmitry Adbashyan, head of the Department of Civil Aviation under the Government of Nagorno-Karabakh, flights will be fulfilled by three 50-seat aircrafts model SRJ-200, each worth 15-16 million US dollars. The airline will be called "Air Artsakh". According to Mr Adbashyan, tickets Stepanakert-Yerevan-Stepanakert will cost around 50-60 US dollars.
He has assured that the issue of flight safety was "settled by 100 percent" and explained: "I hope that Azerbaijan, being a member of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and a signatory to several international conventions, will remain true to its commitment and will not hinder us in terms of flight safety, the "Azatutyn" Radio reports.
Azerbaijan, in its turn, plans to prevent establishment by the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh of its international air service. In particular, the official Baku will complain to the ICAO.
"We will not admit any non-sanctioned by us flights over the air space of our country," Magerram Safarli, head of the press-service of the "AzAl", told the "Interfax".
