Despite the earlier promises to cut unnecessary budgetary spendings,the paper says that most government agencies still continue purchasing expensive air tickets for different trips.[br]The Constitutional Court reportedly spent 315000 Armenian Drams (US $ 650) on March 12 to buy a two-way ticket between Yerevan and Venice.
The paper claims that the ticket could own been acquired for as much as AMD 180000-AMD 200000 (approx $370-410) in the said period.
It says further that the Ministry of Economic Development and Investments purchased a flight ticket for Gdansk (Russia) for AMD 662000 (over $1350) in February, instead of opting for the available cheaper price of AMD 210000-AMD 210000 (approx $430-$470). The paper adds that the Ministry of Agriculture spent twice less (AMD 331000 or over $680000) the same day to buy an air ticket for the same route. The price is thought to be considerably more expensive compared to the available market prices at the time.
All the tickets were reportedly purchased through the airline Ekeng, and which the paper says is the only company entitled to sell travel tickets to government agencies.
Source: tert.am