Gyumri Shirak International Airport ( hy, Գյումրի Շիրակ Միջազգային Oդանավակայան, translit=Gyumri Shirak Mijazgayin Odanavakayan), is an international airport serving
Gyumri
Gyumri ( hy, Գյումրի, ) is an urban municipal community and the second-largest city in Armenia, serving as the administrative center of Shirak Province in the northwestern part of the country. By the end of the 19th century, when the city w ...
and the province of
Shirak, Armenia. It is about from the center of Gyumri. The airport was inaugurated in 1961, and is the second largest airport in the country, after
Yerevan
Yerevan ( , , hy, Երևան , sometimes spelled Erevan) is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest continuously inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Y ...
's
Zvartnots International Airport
Zvartnots International Airport ( hy, Զվարթնոց միջազգային օդանավակայան, translit=Zvart'nots' mijazgayin ōdanavakayan) is located near Zvartnots, west of Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia. It acts as the main ...
.
History
The airport terminal was built in 1982 by architects Levon Christophorian and Ruben Asratyan. However, after the
earthquake in 1988, the airport became largely inoperable and practically unused until it was partially renewed in 2004. At the start of 2006, Armenia felt the importance of having a second airport, when adverse weather conditions meant that many flights had to be diverted from Yerevan's
Zvartnots International Airport
Zvartnots International Airport ( hy, Զվարթնոց միջազգային օդանավակայան, translit=Zvart'nots' mijazgayin ōdanavakayan) is located near Zvartnots, west of Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia. It acts as the main ...
into Gyumri's Shirak Airport. New radar systems that allow aircraft identification within a radius were installed in 2006.
In 2007, the runway underwent major repairs and was completely re-asphalted. A new Finnish IDMAN light-signal system has been installed since, and repair works have been carried out in the ramp and special ground handling technics have been imported. In 2007 the General Department of Civil Aviation of the Government of Armenia granted Shirak airport an ICAO First Class Airport license. A new arrivals area was inaugurated on September 16, 2021, increasing the airport's capacity to 700,000 passengers per year.
Overview
Runway 02 is equipped with an
ILS CAT I, enabling aircraft operations in low
ceiling
A ceiling is an overhead interior surface that covers the upper limits of a room. It is not generally considered a structural element, but a finished surface concealing the underside of the roof structure or the floor of a story above. Ceilings ...
(60 meters) and visibility (800 meters).
The airport is also equipped with a new
air traffic control
Air traffic control (ATC) is a service provided by ground-based air traffic controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and through a given section of controlled airspace, and can provide advisory services to aircraft in non-controlled airs ...
tower and a boiler room, as well as a new arrivals area including five passport control booths and an additional baggage carousel. The airport features a
Dufry
Dufry AG is a Swiss-based travel retailer which operates duty-free and duty-paid shops and convenience stores in airports, cruise lines, seaports, railway stations and central tourist areas. The company, headquartered in Basel, employs almost 36,0 ...
duty-free shop
A duty-free shop (or store) is a retail outlet whose goods are exempt from the payment of certain local or national taxes and duties, on the requirement that the goods sold will be sold to travelers who will take them out of the country, who ...
after security in the departures area. Runway resurfacing works were completed on September 16, 2021, as part of a large-scale modernisation program for the airport.
The airport also serves as an airbase for the
Armenian Air Force
The Armenian Air Force ( hy, Հայաստանի Ռազմաօդային Ուժեր, Hayastani Razmaodayin Uzher) is the air arm of the Armed Forces of Armenia formed by independent Armenia in 1992 in the wake of the dissolution of the Soviet Unio ...
, which has a large maintenance and operations base with several combat and training aircraft stationed at the north-east of the airfield.
Airlines and destinations
Statistics
See also
*
Transport in Armenia This article considers transport in Armenia.
Railways
Total
in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines
Broad gauge
825 km of gauge (825 km electrified) (1995)
There is no service south of Yerevan.
City with metro s ...
*
List of the busiest airports in Armenia
Air transportation in Armenia is the most convenient and comfortable means of getting into the country. There are large international airports that accept both external and domestic flights throughout the Republic. As of 2020, 11 airports operate ...
*
List of the busiest airports in the former USSR
A ''list'' is any set of items in a row. List or lists may also refer to:
People
* List (surname)
Organizations
* List College, an undergraduate division of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
* SC Germania List, German rugby union ...
References
External links
General Department of Civil Aviation of Armenia - airport information
{{authority control
Airports built in the Soviet Union
Airports in Armenia
Buildings and structures in Gyumri
Airports established in 1961
1961 establishments in Armenia