Zvartnots International Airport

Zvartnots International Airport (Armenian: Զվարթնոց միջազգային օդանավակայան, romanized: Zvart'nots' mijazgayin ōdanavakayan) (IATA: EVN, ICAO: UDYZ) is located near Zvartnots, 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia. It acts as the main international airport of Armenia and is Yerevan's main international transport hub. It is the busiest airport in the country as well as the 13th-busiest airport in the post-Soviet states. History The airport was opened in 1961, and following a design competition held in 1970, M. Khachikyan, A. Tarkhanyan, S. Qalashyan, L. Cherkezyan, and M. Baghdasaryan won the right to design the first terminal building. 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 Corporación América, which is in turn owned by Armenian Argentine businessman Eduardo Eurnekian. As part of that agreement, Armenia International Airports CJSC renovated the runways, main taxiways, and ramps. In 2006, a new gate area and arrivals hall opened, followed by an overall improvement of the airport's fire services, including replacing the entire fire-fighting fleet with new vehicles. A new departures and arrivals terminal, car-parking facility with a capacity of 600 vehicles, and a government delegation terminal all opened in 2011. On 30 January 2013, Zvartnots airport was named "Best Airport In the CIS" during the Emerging Markets Airports Award (EMAA) ceremonies held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. In March 2024, Armenia officially expelled Russian border guards who had been stationed at the airport. Their withdrawal was completed on 31 July. Overview The airport is able to accept aircraft up to and including the Antonov An-225, Boeing 747-400 and Airbus A380. Runway 08 is equipped with an ILS CAT II, which enables aircraft operations in low ceiling (30 meters) and visibility (300 metres). Zvartnots International Airport recently implemented a new flight information display system (FIDS), a new automated and biometric-identification system for baggage check-in and passenger control, as well as the installation of 150 surveillance cameras across airport premises. The access to the boarding area is highly secured with three steps, a pre-control, a passport control, and X-ray control. The airport features an Avolta duty-free retail shop after security, as well as the Converse Bank business class lounge, with a view overlooking the gate area and apron. In addition, the airport features a HayPost office, a pharmacy, several dining options and cafes, a Europcar, Beeline, VivaCell MTS, Ardshinbank, as well as, HSBC, VTB Bank, and Ameriabank ATMs. In December 2019, yearly passenger flow at Zvartnots International Airport exceeded 3 million passengers for the first time in Armenia's history. In 2023, passenger flow at Zvartnots exceeded 5 million passengers for the first time. In 2025, taxiway A, which has not been in use since the 1970s, was completely renovated and put back into service. Operation of this renovated taxiway will significantly enhance the airport’s operational efficiency. It will also allow for more optimal ground movement of aircraft, increasing the total number of aircraft movement by about 35%. Future developments In October 2025, due to unprecedented growth in passenger traffic, Zvartnots airport unveiled plans for a $500 million expansion of the terminal building. The 10-year investment program will double the airport’s capacity. The number of boarding gates will increase from 6 to 16, and the arrivals, passport control, and customs areas will more than double in size. The airport will also gain modern lounges, expanded parking facilities, and improved transportation access for passengers. In January 2026, Armenia’s government approved an extension of the concession agreement for the airport, pushing the contract’s expiry to the end of 2067 in exchange for major investments. Corporación América Airports, owned by Argentine-Armenian businessman Eduardo Eurnekian, will invest approximately $425 million to expand passenger and cargo infrastructure at the airport. Airlines and destinations Passenger The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter services to and from the airport: Cargo Statistics Annual statistics Ground transportation Bus routes and subway service In 2017, a new express bus service began operation, with regular round-trips between Zvartnots Airport and downtown Yerevan. The number 201 bus leaves the airport every half hour between 7 am and 11 pm, and every hour between 12 am and 6 am. The travel time is approximately 30 minutes, depending on traffic. Operated by Elitebus, a one-way fare costs 300 AMD. The bus terminus is on Amiryan Street, but the bus also makes stops along Mashtots Avenue, at the Yeritasardakan station (where passengers can connect to the Yerevan Metro system), and at the Republic Square. Automobile The airport is accessed from the M5 highway, which connects Yerevan with the west of the country and other major highways. By car, the distance from Zvartnots Airport to the centre of Yerevan is 12 kilometers, taking approximately 20 minutes to get to. At Zvartnots Airport, cars from rental companies are available. The airport offers various official parking options, from premium to low cost. In addition, alternative parking options are within the reach of the airport. Taxi service In 2019, Zvartnots Airport partnered with Yandex Taxi to provide passengers with taxi services from the airport. Incidents On 14 February 2008, Belavia Flight 1834, operated by a Bombardier CRJ100ER, stalled and crashed on takeoff at Zvartnots. The aircraft flipped over and burst into flames. There were no fatalities amongst the 21 occupants, but seven people were injured. See also Transport in Armenia List of the busiest airports in Armenia List of the busiest airports in the former USSR List of the busiest airports in Europe Notes References External links Media related to Zvartnots International Airport at Wikimedia Commons Armenia International Airports Official Website (in Armenian, English, and Russian)