Air navigation officers refuse to work in Armenia

09/08/2006

According to the Russian federal air navigation services, on August 14 Russia will stop handling air navigation services to Armenian airline company Armavia in the territory of Russia. The reason is the fact that Armavia has a debt to them covering $800k. The Russian air navigation services stopped working for Armavia first back in February. In February, Armavia presented a schedule of covering their debts to the Russian air navigation services, according to which they had to pay their debts and reach a normal regime until May 31. After the Armenian A320 jet accident Armavia stopped covering its debts to the Russian air navigation services and asked them to postpone the schedule of covering their debts. On June 23, Armavia and the Russian air navigation services negotiated and the Russian navigation services agreed to postpone the schedule of covering the debts. The announcement of the Russian federal air navigation services is almost like the debt of “Armenian Airlines” as well, which covers $2,5 million as of 2001. The head of the Russian air navigation services said that they understood the Armenian air company, but they had to pay salaries to their employees and as well as make other expenses. The head of the Russian air navigation services says that if Armavia starts covering its debts before August 14, they will not stop working for them.

On August 4, Armavia company made an announcement saying that the Russian air navigation services have not made any decisions to stop handling air navigation services to Armavia. “There have been difficulties in while working together and we have overcome those difficulties. We will continue working together”, as stated in the announcement of Armavia.