Turkey and Armenia to resume air service

Turkey and Armenia will launch reciprocal charter flights between Istanbul and Yerevan starting today.

Following the first round-trip flight from Istanbul to Yerevan, the route will open with three reciprocal flights per week. The decision comes as part of mutual confidence-building measures to improve historically poor bilateral relations. In mid-January, Turkey and Armenia held their first round of talks in over ten years, with both sides expressing optimism about the future of their relationship following the meeting.

Beyond the resumption of travel, both countries are taking additional steps to establish diplomatic and economic bonds. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has indicated that it is possible Armenia will accept Turkey’s invitation to participate in the annual Antalya Diplomacy Forum from March 11-13.

Long-term, Turkey aims to expand its regional influence through increased transport and trade links that will strengthen its economy and will attempt to minimize tensions with its neighbors in the Caucasus. Expect Turkey to try and reestablish minimal trust with Armenia by pushing for another bilateral meeting to discuss normalization steps and the potential for direct trade routes. However, the longer that negotiations drag out without results, the more likely momentum will dissipate or be overpowered by outside agendas.