Armavia Owner Tries to Explain Increase in Airfares

Armavia Armenian airlines sells its tickets in stages — first, the cheapest, then slightly more expensive and finally, the most expensive. The most expensive tickets are what remain for the months of July and August, which is why it seems to people that airfares have increased. This is how Armavia owner Mikhail Baghdasarov, speaking to journalists in Yerevan Wednesday, explained the increase from $430 to $650 for a return ticket on a Yerevan-Beirut flight.

“Those who purchase the tickets in advance get them cheaper,” he said.

This is also how Baghdasarov explained Armavia tickets being more expensive than S7 Airlines (formerly known as Siberia Airlines) or Aeroflot airfares.

“This doesn’t mean that our tickets are more expensive — the prices are the same everywhere. The reason is that our cheap tickets sell fast, while not theirs, which is why probably they buy from them, but then they’ll buy from us again,” he said.