By David Kaminski-Morrow in London
Two weeks after separate accidents wiped out much of its fleet, Armenian carrier Armavia has taken delivery of the second of two Airbus A319s and stated that it intends to complement its fleet with 50- to 70-seat regional aircraft.
Yerevan-based Armavia has received the A319 which, like its predecessor, was formerly operated by US carrier Independence Air. It will bear the registration EK-32012. “Soon this aircraft will begin operating scheduled services,” says the carrier.
It has also revealed that its fleet plan includes acquiring a regional aircraft with 50-70 seats, but the carrier has not indicated a type – although it says that the aircraft will be “American”.
Armavia fleet additions come two weeks after a fatal Black Sea crash and a subsequent maintenance hangar fire at Brussels destroyed two of its three Airbus A320 aircraft.
Introduction of the A319 brings its fleet up to six aircraft – two A319s, its sole remaining A320, an Ilyushin Il-86, plus a Yakovlev Yak-42 and Yak-40 – but the airline says that its policy is not to use aircraft manufactured before 2000.
Source: Flight International
