Category: News

FlyOne Armenia has finalised an order with Airbus for the acquisition of two A321neo aircraft. The agreement was first announced as a Memorandum of Understanding during French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Armenia on the 5th May 2026.

The two A321neo aircraft, representing FlyOne Armenia’s first direct order from Airbus, will be powered by CFM International’s LEAP engines, Airbus said in a press release. 

Configured with a 239-seat all-economy layout, these aircraft are central to the carrier’s strategic fleet enhancement and represent a key milestone in its ambitious route network expansion. Established in 2021, the airline currently operates a fleet of 11 A320 Family aircraft.

“Our first direct order with Airbus marks an important and symbolic milestone in FLYONE Armenia’s development. Having two new A321neo aircraft built by Airbus specifically for our  airline reflects our continued commitment to fleet modernisation and long-term growth. We are proud to strengthen our partnership with Airbus and are confident that this investment will support not only FlyOne Armenia’s future development, but also the continued growth of Armenia’s civil aviation sector and its international cooperation,” said Aram Khachatryan, CEO of FlyOne Armenia.

“This first direct order from FlyOne Armenia underscores the airline’s commitment for operational excellence and enhanced passenger comfort as it continues to expand its A320 Family fleet,” said Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business. “We are very happy to welcome FlyOne as a new member of the Airbus family and we look forward to a deep and fruitful collaboration together to support their strategic growth plans.”

The A320 Family is the world’s most popular single-aisle aircraft, having won more than 20,000 orders globally. The Family includes the largest member, the A321neo, offering unparalleled range and performance. The Family offers at least 20% fuel savings and CO₂ reduction compared to previous generation single-aisle aircraft, while maximising passenger comfort with one of the widest single-aisle cabins in the sky.

The Chair of the parliamentary Committee on Labor and Welfare Affairs MP Nazeli Baghdasaryan and committee members met with civil society representatives to discuss social protection programs, including support for persons displaced from Karabakh, the committee said in a press release.

The MPs and civil society representatives addressed issues arising in the implementation of employment, housing, and social assistance programs for displaced persons, as well as possible solutions. They also discussed proposals to improve the effectiveness and targeting of government programs.

An agreement was reached to continue discussions on the proposals presented.

YEREVAN, 30 SEPTEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 30 September, USD exchange rate down by 0.35 drams to 362.83 drams. EUR exchange rate stood at 412.14 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.018 drams to 4.3367 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 1.49 drams to 482.2 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 173 drams to 48567 drams. Silver price down by 6.11 drams to 710.01 drams.

Deputy Prosecutor General Edgar Arsenyan, as part of the delegation of the Republic of Armenia, is participating in the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Abu Dhabi.

According to a press release issued by the Prosecutor-General’s Office, Arsenyan delivered a speech at the congress, presenting the experience and approaches of the Republic of Armenia in the fields of crime prevention and criminal justice, with particular focus on the importance of international cooperation and directions for its further development.

The Deputy Prosecutor General addressed the purpose and specific features of the institution of confiscation of property of illicit origin in Armenia, as well as the importance of mutual legal assistance and international cooperation in the context of identifying assets located in foreign countries and obtaining information concerning them. The practical challenges faced were also presented, along with the experience of exchanging requests between Armenia and foreign partners, as well as the work being carried out to enhance the effectiveness of cooperation.

On the same day, Edgar Arsenyan met with UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi.

During the meeting, the specific features of the institution of confiscation of property of illicit origin in the Republic of Armenia were presented. The parties also discussed the status of requests submitted by the Republic of Armenia to the competent authorities of the UAE in individual cases within the framework of mutual legal assistance, as well as issues related to obtaining the necessary information concerning them, tracing assets, the timely exchange of information, and enhancing the effectiveness of processing international requests.

As a result of the meeting, an agreement was reached to strengthen practical cooperation and make further cooperation more effective.

As part of the visit, the delegation of the Republic of Armenia also held bilateral meetings with senior representatives in the justice sector of partner states, including delegations headed by the ministers of justice of the UAE and the State of Qatar. Issues of mutual interest and prospects for developing cooperation were discussed.

Armenia and the United States are moving from agreements to practical action in the critical minerals sector, advancing the implementation of the US–Armenia Memorandum of Understanding on Critical Minerals, the US Embassy in Armenia said.

Paul Hueper, Director of the Office of Energy Supply Chains at the US Department of State’s Bureau of Economic, Energy and Business Affairs, met representatives of the Armenian government, the private sector and civil society to learn about the needs and opportunities in Armenia’s mining sector and discuss potential areas for US technical assistance.

“Together, we are building secure, diversified critical-minerals supply chains – and advancing prosperity through the U.S.-Armenia Strategic Partnership,” the embassy said in a statement.

On 26 May 2026, Armenia and the United States signed a framework memorandum on securing supplies in the extraction and processing of critical minerals and rare earths.

Fuel prices have also risen in Armenia amid a significant increase in international commodity exchange prices for fuel in recent months.

Speaking to Armenpress, Ani Smbatyan, spokesperson for the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, stressed that the fuel market remains under the commission’s constant scrutiny.

“Every month, the commission receives and analyses information from the relevant state bodies and businesses operating in the sector on the situation in the fuel market, including remaining stocks in fuel storage facilities, import prices and volumes, costs and selling prices,” she said.

The recent rise in petrol prices has attracted widespread attention in the media and on social media. By the end of September, regular petrol prices at some filling stations had reached 600 drams, while premium petrol prices had exceeded 620 drams.

At around 13:25 on 29 September, the Environmental Protection and Mining Inspection Body received an alert from the Interior Ministry’s 112 Operational Control Centre about a bird of prey found helpless by a member of the public in an area known as the Noravank junction in Vayots Dzor province.

“Inspectors immediately went to the scene, where they found a wild griffon vulture, a species listed in Armenia’s Red Book, that was unable to fly. An external examination revealed no injuries,” the inspection body said in a statement.

At around 18:00 the same day, inspection body staff transferred the bird to the rehabilitation clinic of Yerevan Zoo, a municipal non-commercial organisation, to ensure proper care and rehabilitation.

Armenia’s Universal Health Insurance Fund, in cooperation with the European Union and the health ministries of Croatia and Slovenia, has officially launched the EU Twinning programme entitled “Support for the Implementation of Universal Health Insurance Reform in Armenia”.

In her opening remarks at the launch event at the National Gallery of Armenia, Armenian Health Minister Anahit Avanesyan said the programme would allow Armenia to study the experience of EU member states Croatia and Slovenia and implement universal health insurance reform more effectively through exchanges of expertise.

“On 1 January 2026, we began a phase of the long-awaited reform. The transition to the new insurance model was intended to address our citizens’ health needs in a more timely and cost-effective manner. Our main motivation is to improve our health indicators every year and increase average life expectancy. We have made considerable progress in this regard. Even before the introduction of insurance, other reforms we had implemented helped us achieve an average life expectancy of 78.6 years in 2024 for the first time, a record for us. In 2025, we increased it to 78.9 years. This year, the introduction of universal health insurance will improve this indicator further,” the minister said.

She said one of Armenia’s goals was to develop its healthcare system in line with international best standards.

“We greatly value Croatia’s participation in the EU-funded Twinning programme. This will give us a broader understanding of the challenges we face and allow us to understand how we can help each other overcome problems in public health and financing,” Avanesyan said.

She thanked partner countries Croatia and Slovenia for their cooperation.

Croatian Health Minister Irena Hrstić said the programme was bringing Croatia, Slovenia and Armenia together, with EU financial support, around a common goal: making healthcare more accessible.

“Universal health insurance is much more than simply financing healthcare. It is an _expression_ of solidarity and also our responsibility towards every individual. Croatia has had public healthcare and national insurance systems in place for several years, and Armenia is also seeking to achieve that goal,” Hrstić said.

She congratulated Armenia’s health minister and prime minister on making healthcare a priority for Armenian citizens.

“I believe the transfer of knowledge and experience will help Armenia advance that goal and will also contribute to cooperation and friendship. Friendship, knowledge, experience, dialogue and close ties — I believe both countries will benefit,” the Croatian health minister said.

Vassilis Maragos, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, added that the programme was challenging but also motivating.

“For my part, I would like to emphasise how much we value our partnership with Armenia. People are the most important component of our partnership. The Twinning cooperation format brings together the expertise of our member states. We began discussing this programme after some time, and you also needed time for us to develop the formats. We are guided by the Team Europe approach. The Twinning format requires very thorough preparation. We value our partnership with Armenia as a key partner in reforms,” Maragos said.

The two-year EU-funded programme is an important step in implementing comprehensive universal health insurance reforms in Armenia. It aims to strengthen institutional capacity, optimise healthcare financing mechanisms and support the establishment of sustainable structures within the system to ensure high-quality, accessible healthcare services for Armenian citizens.

The programme also provides for promoting institutional cooperation and exchanges of knowledge and best practices. Cooperation will focus on strengthening legal and institutional frameworks, ensuring efficient operations, promoting financial sustainability and improving healthcare system governance.

Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan met Sina Al Fattahi, a board member of Royal Front Investments, and Salah Tahlak, Deputy Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free.

According to a statement issued by Yerevan Municipality, the meeting focused on the progress of Noragyugh’s “Downtown” project, its development concept and investment opportunities. Interest in the project is gradually growing.

The second Armenian Investment and Financial Forum was held in Yerevan under the theme “A Time of Opportunity: Armenia in the New Architecture of Global Markets”.

The event brought together more than 1,000 participants on a single platform, including representatives of state institutions, the financial sector, major businesses, international organisations, technology companies and the expert community.

One of the forum’s significant symbolic moments was a ceremonial first chess move dedicated to the school chess tournament to be held in Tsaghkadzor and the opening of the European stage of the World Team Championship. International Chess Federation (FIDE) President Timur Turlov, who visited Armenia specifically for the tournament, took part in the ceremony. His presence at the forum brought together ideas shared by the worlds of finance and chess: strategic thinking, calculated decision-making and a long-term vision for the future.

The symbolic first move was not only a memorable moment at the event but also highlighted the importance of educational and youth initiatives, demonstrating that future approaches to economics and investment are also shaped through education, analytical thinking and a culture of strategic planning.

The forum’s business programme included a plenary session, a series of panel discussions, discussions involving international experts, special announcements and partnership events. Discussions focused on the development of Armenia’s capital market, new opportunities to attract investment, the country’s integration into the international financial system, the role of banks and brokers in developing the financial ecosystem, and the impact of technology and artificial intelligence on the future of the financial sector.

The plenary session, entitled “Armenia in the Global Economy: Through the Lens of Capital Markets”, examined ongoing transformations in the global financial system and the opportunities these changes could create for Armenia.

One of the key speakers at the plenary session was Timur Turlov, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Freedom Holding Corp. and President of the International Chess Federation. He addressed the prospects for developing Armenia’s capital market, the opportunities the country offers international investors and the importance of developing modern financial infrastructure.

The forum’s panel discussions covered capital market development, cooperation between banks and brokers, financial technology, digitalisation, artificial intelligence, financial literacy and human capital.

A separate discussion examined the pivotal role of capital markets in shaping Armenia’s economic future. Speakers addressed the development of equity and bond markets, opportunities for Armenian companies to enter public markets, prospects for initial public offerings (IPOs), the role of stock exchanges in attracting foreign investment and the potential of the capital market as an additional source of business financing.

Participants in the panel discussion “Banks and Brokers: At the Foundation of Armenia’s National Prosperity” addressed the complementary roles of banks, brokers and the regulator in the financial system, opportunities to serve international clients, the diversification of financial services and the development of an investment culture.

The technology strand was presented through the panel discussion “Digital Horizons: How Technology Is Changing Finance”. Topics included the growing role of artificial intelligence, the digitalisation of financial services, fintech development, the importance of digital identification, new payment solutions and wider access to investment services.

Another important moment at the forum was the announcement that Team Holding’s bond programme had been fully placed. It was announced during the event that Team Holding, with the involvement of Freedom Broker Armenia, had completed the placement of the third and final tranche of its bonds, as well as the full amount specified in the programme prospectus.

The third tranche of US dollar-denominated bonds totalled US$12.5 million. Across the entire programme, bonds worth a total of US$31.5 million and 1.4 billion Armenian drams were placed. The transaction was presented as an example of the practical development of Armenia’s capital market, demonstrating that local businesses can raise financing through capital market instruments as well as traditional bank lending.

During a briefing with journalists, Freedom Broker Armenia Director Hovak Hovakimyan welcomed the successful placement of Freedom Holding’s bonds in three tranches. He said this was a very important step and that such partnerships could serve as an example for other organisations.

“This can also contribute to our country’s overall economic growth. Next year, we will remain active, seeking to cooperate with large organisations that drive economic growth in Armenia. It is very important that bond placements of this kind can take place in Armenia. Our holding company has a range of investors. When we succeed in bringing international investors to Armenia, that is already a major step, because it brings international capital into our country. The number of our investors is growing, and there is no constraint or obstacle preventing us from continuing to operate in the capital market, which, incidentally, continues to grow quite rapidly. If we offer an investment instrument to the world, it must be attractive to potential investors, and if we present it properly, more international capital will come to Armenia,” Hovakimyan said.

He recalled that their academy, Freedom Academy, which runs educational programmes, opened two years ago and that 30,000 people had already been introduced to those programmes.

“Working with the capital market is much easier now than it was two years ago. I believe we will make further progress, because Armenia has that potential. We will do everything we can to make our country the region’s main platform, especially since developing the capital market in Armenia has become an imperative of our time,” Hovakimyan said.

Hayk Yesayan, co-founder and Director of the Team group of companies, said the bond placement had been completed ahead of schedule.

“The funds will be invested in infrastructure development, including logistics and energy infrastructure, which will allow us to create new jobs. This also represents a gain in trust, because we see that our investors increasingly trust us. They are also satisfied with the investment opportunities we create. This is mutually beneficial cooperation, because we issued the bonds with Freedom Broker Armenia, and today we are pleased to announce that the bonds have been sold in full,” Yesayan said.

In his view, one of the first indicators of a company’s ability to raise funds is trust in the company and the transparency of its operations, from decision-making to comprehensive reporting.

The forum also featured partnership and special events, including the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between Freedom Broker Armenia and Juventus Academy Armenia.

The second Armenian Investment and Financial Forum continued to develop the platform established by the previous forum, expanding both the range of participants and the scope and depth of the topics discussed.

One of the forum’s main messages was that the further development of Armenia’s financial market requires strong institutions, a reliable regulatory environment, modern technology, a developed investment culture and sustained cooperation between the state and the private sector.

The participation of more than 1,000 people once again demonstrated that the development of Armenia’s capital market, investment and financial system attracts considerable interest among both local and international business and expert communities.