YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–The newly acquired Airbus A310-200 airplane landed in Yerevan–Wednesday at 10:30 p.m.–some five hours later than scheduled earlier. The new Airbus aircraft left Bremen–Germany behind schedule–not because of last minute preparations for the flight–but because of European airspace traffic delays.
According to information provided by the Armenian Airlines press office–the Airbus airplane has been leased for five years from the company–at a monthly rate of $235,000.
It is planned for the aircraft–which is laid out to carry up to 192 passenger in addition to cargo–to complete 250 hours of flight time monthly–with flight destinations all over Europe–as well as Moscow.
According to Airbus Industries Moscow spokesperson Alexander Bocharov–this particular aircraft will be the 16th of its kind in the CIS. Most of the 16 have been acquired by Aerofloat–while one A-320 is under contract in Uzbekistan.
The spokesperson added that the aircraft’s flight range is set at 7,000 to 9,000 km–without needing refueling.
A special blessing ceremony was held upon arrival of the aircraft at Yerevan’s Zvartnots airport.