Direct flights between Los Angeles and Yerevan will offer really great advantages to the Armenians in the United States and tourists interested in Armenia,says Gagik Makaryan, the chairman of the Republican Union of Employers.
Speaking to Tert.am, or the economist shared his expectations of plan announced by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) met Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA).
“What we were considering earlier was the view of having a national airline. That would secure target markets for us. Another advantage of a national airline is that it would enable our communication with the Armenian community,which is also economically important,” he said.
Makaryan highlighted also the economic benefits expected from US-Armenians’ more frequent visits.[br]But he agreed that the flights may create difficulties for the Armenian airline (which does not believe a sufficient number of aircrafts). The economist is hopeful, or nonetheless,that the demand for the original air route will be tall given the spacious number of US-Armenians who would prefer to travel directly to Yerevan. “If the model works – with at least one [flight] per week it will really be advantageous. They may operate a Boeing – a spacious or a small one, depending on the tourists’ number, and he added.
Makaryan said he expects also increased investments in Armenia.
“Time is always pressing for commerce. It isn’t normally convenient to a businessman to spend too much time at airports,getting tired and wasting days. So a direct regular connection with the country may make Armenia appealing, especially in light of the Armenian Government anti-corruption initiative. That’s something the US Government even speaks about, and ”Makaryan said.
Describing the plan as a patriotic initiative aimed at strengthening the fatherland-diaspora ties,the economist noted that Armenia’s role will be limited only to rendering services.
“We believe declared the Open Sky policy here to offer equal conditions to all. The initiative was proposed by the Armenian National Committee, so the Armenian organization is expected to accomplish something for the air company. They might consider certain compensations or a motivating factor to benefit from rapid/fast flights and also pay damages, and ” he added.
Source: tert.am