Armavia was an airline which existed between 1996 and 2013. It was Armenia's flag carrier, with its head office on the grounds of Zvartnots International Airport in Zvartnots, Armenia, near Yerevan. It operated international passenger services from Yerevan to destinations in Europe and Asia. Its main base was Zvartnots International Airport.
The Armavia company was established in 1996, but commercial flights to Russia and Turkey only started in 2001. In 2002, a strategic alliance was set up with the Russian airline Siberia Airlines (rebranded S7 Airlines in 2006) which purchased 50% of Armavia's shares from the "Chernomoravia" company under the name of the "Aviafin" company registered in Armenia but which belongs to the leadership of Siberia Airlines as natural persons. Later, it bought an additional 18% of shares from Mika Armenia Trading company owned by prominent Armenian businessman Mikhail Baghdasarov. An investment contract between Siberia Airlines and Armavia was signed on 14 March 2003, at which point 68% of Armavia's shares were owned by Siberia Airlines, and the remaining 32% by Mika Armenia Trading.
In 2003, Armavia took over a part of the bankrupt Armenian Airlines' flights. In 2005, Mikhail Baghdasarov's Mika Armenia Trading bought Siberia's 68% of shares and became Armavia's principal shareholder with a 100% stake in the company.
On April 21, 2011, Armavia became the first airline to fly Sukhoi Superjet 100 from Yerevan to Moscow.
On March 29, 2013, Armavia filed for bankruptcy after two years of financial depression and suspended operations on April 1, 2013. All flights had been cancelled as of the evening of March 29, 2013.
Livery
Bombardier (Canadair) CRJ-200 LR, registration EK-20014, built 1999, serial number 7282 Zvartnots International Airport (EVN/UDYZ), Yerevan, Armenia, 7 June 2017
