Zvartnots International Airport

History

The airport was built in 1961. An open architectural design competition was held in 1970. The first prize was awarded to a design team that included architects M. Khachikyan, A. Tarkhanyan, S. Qalashyan, L. Cherkezyan, and structural engineer M. Baghdasaryan. Later the project was implemented with modifications to the original design with participation of designers H. Tigranyan, Arthur Meschian. The airport was renovated in the 1980s with the development of a new terminal area, in order to meet domestic traffic demands within the Soviet Union.

When Armenia declared its independence from the Soviet Union in the 1990s, the growth of cargo shipments resulted in the construction of a new cargo terminal in 1998 that can handle about 100,000 tonnes of cargo annually.

In 2001, a 30-year concession agreement for the management of operations at the airport was signed with Armenia International Airports CJSC, owned by Argentine company Corporation America, which is in turn owned by Armenian Argentine businessman Eduardo Eurnekian. As part of that agreement, Armenia International Airports CJSC renovated and expanded the airport in order for it to serve tourism and commerce between Asia and Europe.

Renovation and expansion work began in 2004, culminating in the opening of a new international terminal on 1 June 2007, after 40 months of work. Another terminal opened on 16 September 2011.

In 2014, Zvartnots airport handled 2,045,058 passengers and 10,409 aircraft movements, a respective 20.9% and 19.3% increase over the previous year's figures.

The airport is able to accept aircraft up to and including the Antonov An-124, Boeing 747-400 and Airbus A380.

On 30 January 2013, Zvartnots airport was named best airport in the CIS during the Emerging Markets Airports Award (EMAA) ceremonies held in Dubai, UAE.

Expansion

In 2004, the construction of a new international terminal began, at a cost of US$100 million. It covers an area of 19,200 m² (207,000 sq ft) and can handle 2 million passengers a year. The building of this terminal is part of the 30-year concession agreement signed by the Armenian Government and Armenia International Airports.

On 14 September 2006 the newly built arrivals hall was opened. The new international terminal with its departures section was opened on 1 June 2007.

An additional investment of US$100 million will be carried out until 2010. Improvements at Zvartnots will involve a total investment of €164 million for the next 30 years. Armenia International Airports CJSC has allocated over €70 million to the first phase, which included a 19,200 m² (207,000 sq ft) extension of the premises and a refurbishment of around 45,000 m² (480,000 sq ft).

Now that the first phase is complete, the airport boasts a 54,000 m² (580,000 sq ft) runway and 45,000 m² (480,000 sq ft) of building, of which the new terminal occupies 25,000 m² (270,000 sq ft) area. New parking has been created, with capacity for 1,000 vehicles. Many international airlines now operate from Zvartnots, connecting Yerevan to the world.

The arrival hall capacity has been doubled to reach a volume of over 1,000 passengers per hour, and passenger management will be streamlined thanks to a substantial expansion of the customs. The airport's waiting areas and passenger service areas have been renovated, with Wi-Fi, together with the enhancement of the duty-free shops and restaurants.

Runway 09 is equipped with an ILS CAT II, which enables aircraft operations in low ceiling (30 meters) and visibility (350 meters).

In the spring of 2008, the construction of a new passenger terminal began, in order to supplement the existing concourse. The project was completed in September 2011. The new passenger terminal, occupying 52,000 m² (560,000 sq ft), doubled the number of passenger check-in counters and security control points. A new underground parking lot was built, with a parking area for more than 800 cars, and occupying 2,000 m² (22,000 sq ft). With the completion of the terminal, "Zvartnots" International Airport is the only airport in the Caucasus that corresponds to the rating B. The airport can now serve 3.5 million passengers annually. The entire project cost was $160 million, part of which was on loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The new terminal started operating on 16 September 2011.

Security

To comply with the international air regulations, Armenia International Airports has improved security at Zvartnots. One hundred and fifty surveillance cameras have been installed at the airport, inside the buildings and in open spaces. The airport is guarded by Armenian and Russian guards.

The modernization effort has included the implementation of a new flight information display system (FIDS) as well as a new automated and biometric-identification system for baggage check-in and passenger control. The access to the boarding lounge is highly secured, by 3 steps, a pre-control (fingerprints and boarding pass), a passport control, and X-ray control.

Terminals

The airport has 3 terminals: Terminal 1, built in 1971 and closed in 2011, Terminal 2, with 2 buildings - Arrivals and Departures - operating respectively since 2006 and 2011, and a VIP terminal.

Terminal 1 is a circular terminal, with the control tower in the center of it. The parking garage is located underneath the bridge serving the Departures floor, and has 250 car spaces. The Arrivals hall was on the lowest floor, was dark and rather narrow, leading to transfer the Arrivals to the new Terminal 2 boarding building in 2006. When the Terminal 2 boarding lounge was opened, its additional gates were connected to Terminal 1 by a bridge. There was a total of 21 check-in desks, 9 gates, of which 3 were equipped with jetways (15 gates from 2006 to 2011, for a total of 8 jetways), 2 baggage carousels. Since its closure in 2011, the terminal is abandoned, and is not maintained anymore. Cracks in the concrete of the control tower appeared since then, but officials affirm that Terminal 1 will not be pulled out, and could be listed as a national monument for its unique architecture.

Terminal 2, opened in 3 phases respectively in 2006, 2007, and 2011, can serve up to 3.5 million passengers a year. The check-in hall is on the 2nd floor, under a very high glazed ceiling, and has 42 check-in desks in 2 piers, equipped with brand-new technology. Its boarding lounge include 8 gates: 5 via jetways, and 3 by bus; duty-free shops, a rest area in front of the 8 meter-high full glazed facade with a panoramic view over the tarmac and Mount Ararat, cafes, and a Business Lounge at the 4th floor. The security checkpoint has 16 passport control booths, and reliable X-ray machines. The Arrival hall is first made by a glazed tunnel between the 2nd and the first floor, then escalators lead down to Immigration control (15 booths), before passing through a large Duty-Free store, which opens on the baggage claim area (4 carousels). The public arrivals exit, linked with the departures level, contains cafes, banks and tourist desks. The outside of the terminal opens on the drop-off road, taxi station, and to the 3-floor parking garage.

Ground transportation

There is a large variety of taxis available outside the terminal, but the official taxi service of Zvartnots airport is AeroTaxi. This company serves only Zvartnots Airport to any direction or vice versa. It does not provide intracity service.

Bus No. 201 connects the airport with the crossroads of Sayat-Nova and Mashtots streets in Yerevan. Bus No. 108 also connects the city center with the airport. The Armenian government plans to have Yerevan Metro extended to Yerevan Zvartnots Airport either with an extension to the current line or to have a brand new line built.

Accidents and incidents