Yerevan Airport Guide: Zvartnots in the Shadow of Ararat
Yerevan Airport, also called Zvartnots, is Armenia's main gateway. Read about its history, long runway, airlines, busiest routes, transport and expansion.
By The Aviation Hub
5 min read
Updated October 20, 2026 
On a clear day, aircraft arriving in Armenia’s capital fly towards one of the great mountain backdrops in aviation, the snow capped twin peaks of Mount Ararat. Yerevan Airport, officially Zvartnots International Airport, is the country’s main gateway and its link to a large global diaspora. It handled about 5.6 million passengers in 2025, more than ever before. A long runway, a busy Russian network and a big expansion programme make it one of the most interesting airports in the Caucasus.
Yerevan Airport at a Glance
The IATA code is EVN and the ICAO code is UDYZ. The airport lies about 7 miles (12 km) west of central Yerevan, near the town of Zvartnots, at an elevation of 865 m (2,838 ft). It has one runway and a modern passenger terminal, plus a government terminal and a cargo terminal. Yerevan Airport handled around 5.6 million passengers in 2025, up seven per cent on 2024. FlyOne Armenia, Armenia Airways, Shirak Avia and Novair are based here, and Wizz Air runs an operating base. Armenia International Airports, part of Corporación América, holds the concession.
How Yerevan’s Airport Came to Be
The airport opened in 1961, when Armenia was a Soviet republic. It takes its name from the nearby town of Zvartnots and the ruins of the seventh century Zvartnots Cathedral, which stand close to the airfield. In the 1980s the airport was rebuilt to handle growing Soviet domestic traffic, and its circular terminal became a celebrated example of late Soviet modernist design.
Independence in 1991 brought hard years, but also a new model. In 2001 the government granted a 30 year concession to Armenia International Airports, owned by Corporación América and its Armenian Argentine founder, Eduardo Eurnekian. New arrivals and departures facilities opened in stages from the mid 2000s, replacing the old circular building for everyday use.
In February 2008 a Belavia Bombardier CRJ100 stalled and crashed on take off, flipping over and catching fire. All 21 people aboard survived, though seven were injured. A long running Russian border guard presence at Yerevan Airport ended on 31 July 2024, after about 32 years.
Runways at Yerevan Airport
The single runway, 08/26, is one of the airport’s great assets. It measures 3,850 m (12,631 ft) long and 56 m wide, with an asphalt surface. That length and width allow it to accept the Boeing 747-400, the Airbus A380 and, in its day, the Antonov An-225.
Runway 08 has a Category II instrument landing system, allowing operations with cloud as low as about 30 m and visibility down to roughly 300 m. That matters in winter, when fog and low cloud settle over the Ararat plain. Hot summers at this elevation reduce aircraft performance, so the long runway gives heavy departures plenty of margin. Taxiway A, unused since the 1970s, was renovated and reopened in 2025. The airport expects it to lift aircraft movements by around 35 per cent.
Terminals and Airlines
All scheduled passengers at Yerevan Airport use the modern terminal, which combines departures and arrivals. It has six boarding gates, a figure that limits growth at peak times. A separate government delegation terminal handles official flights, and the cargo terminal, opened in 1998, can process about 100,000 tonnes a year.
FlyOne Armenia is the leading local airline at Yerevan Airport, flying Airbus A320 family jets to Europe and the Middle East. Wizz Air bases aircraft here and has opened routes across Europe. Aeroflot and other Russian carriers fly frequently to Moscow and southern Russia. Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways and flydubai link Armenia with their hubs, and smaller local operators such as Shirak Avia and Novair add capacity.
Routes and Destinations
Russia remains the dominant market for Yerevan Airport. In early 2026 Moscow Sheremetyevo had about 34 weekly flights and Vnukovo about 31, with Krasnodar, Sochi and Mineralnye Vody also served many times a week. That reflects deep family and business ties between the two countries.
The European network has grown fast. Larnaca has around 17 weekly flights, while Rome and Frankfurt each see about nine. Dubai and Doha provide links to the Gulf and onward to Asia. The diaspora drives demand in Europe, Russia and the Middle East, and summer brings extra flights for tourists and visiting families. Long haul links to North America, home to a large Armenian community, currently rely on connections.
Getting to and from Yerevan Airport
There is no rail link to Yerevan Airport. The cheapest option is express bus 201, which runs to central Yerevan in about 30 minutes for 300 dram (well under a pound). It leaves every half hour from 7am to 11pm and hourly overnight, stopping at Yeritasardakan metro station and Republic Square.
The airport sits just off the M5 highway, and the drive to the centre takes around 20 minutes by car. Yandex Taxi has partnered with the airport since 2019, and ride hailing apps are the simplest way to avoid haggling. Car hire desks and both official and private parking are available. Live flight information is on the airport’s official website.
Spotting and Photography
Mount Ararat makes this a dream location for aviation photographers. The mountain rises across the Turkish border to the south, and aircraft climbing out or landing in clear morning air can be framed against its snow capped peaks. Roads and fields around Yerevan Airport offer several vantage points.
The fleet mix includes Russian carriers’ Superjets and Airbus jets, FlyOne and Wizz Air A320s and visiting wide bodies. Winter mornings often give the clearest views of Ararat. Armenia is welcoming, but airports are sensitive sites. Stay on public land, avoid government and military areas, and follow any instruction from police or security staff.
What Comes Next
Major expansion is under way. In October 2025 the airport announced a 500 million dollar, ten year terminal programme to double capacity and increase boarding gates from six to 16. In January 2026 the government extended the concession to 2067, with Corporación América committing about 425 million dollars to passenger and cargo infrastructure.
The new gates will end the peak time squeeze, and the long concession gives investors confidence. Any lasting easing of tensions with Armenia’s neighbours could, in time, open new regional routes, though politics in the Caucasus remain unpredictable. Expect Yerevan Airport to keep growing as a regional hub for Armenians at home and abroad. Explore more airports on the Airports of the World map.
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