Airport type Public Hub for Taron avia Address Gyumri, Armenia Elevation 1,524 m | Serves Gyumri Elevation AMSL 5,000 ft / 1,524 m Code LWN Phone +374 10 493000 | |
Operator Armenia International Airports CJSC, owned by Corporation America Location Gyumri, Shirak, Armenia Owner General Department of Civil Aviation of Armenia Similar Araratbank, Artik, Hotel Alexandr, Marmash, Gyumri City Hall | ||
Shirak International Airport (IATA: LWN, ICAO: UDSG) is an international airport serving Gyumri and the province of Shirak, Armenia. It is located about 5 km from the center of Gyumri. The airport was inaugurated in 1961, and is the second largest airport in the country, after Yerevan's Zvartnots International Airport.
At the start of 2006, Armenia felt the importance of having a second international airport, when adverse weather conditions meant that many flights had to be diverted from Yerevan’s Zvartnots International Airport into Gyumri’s Shirak Airport. New air traffic control equipment allowed airport workers to identify planes within a 400 km radius. The equipment is a newly developed system and according to the Czech company that implemented it, this is the first time it has been installed at an airport in a mountainous location, and the experience from its installation will serve as a model for its future installation in other regions. Runway 02 is equipped with an ILS CAT I, enabling aircraft operations in low ceiling (60 meters) and visibility (800 meters).
New ownership
On August 3, 2007, the government of Armenia announced that it had agreed to include the management of operations at Armenia's second largest airport (Shirak) in the 30-year concession agreement that it signed with Armenia International Airports CJSC in December 2001 to take over operations at Zvartnots International Airport. Armenia International Airports CJSC is owned by Corporacion America, an Argentine company which operates several airports across South America, which is owned in turn by Eduardo Eurnekian.
According to Artem Movsisian, head of the General Department of Civil Aviation of Armenia, Corporacion America will to turn the airport in Gyumri into a first-class airport. He also said the company has pledged to invest $10 million in 2007 to start modernization programme and within the upcoming years it will invest more to make the airport comply with international standards. Among other commitments is to provide free landing and take-off services to the Armenian Military.
Shirak Airport was closed for renovations from June 20 until October 20, 2007, during which time the runway was repaved and work was done on the airport lighting and the main terminal.