Stepanakert Airport

The airport is located at an elevation of {{convert|610|m|0}} above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 05/23 with an asphalt surface measuring {{convert|2178|x|37|m|0}}.

By the end of 1980 the airport served regular passenger flights from Yerevan to Stepanakert. With the escalation of the Karabakh conflict, the authorities of the Azerbaijan SSR blockaded the Armenian SSR; the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast (or NKAO) airport was the only means of communication with the outside world from the Karabakh region. The airport has been under the control of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic since the ceasefire agreement of the First Nagorno-Karabakh War in 1994.

In 2009, the construction of a new passenger terminal began. Repair work was also conducted on the main runway. According to Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Urban Development Minister Karen Shahramanian, the terminal building would be completed in November 2010; however this was delayed until April 2011.{{cite web|title=Nagorno-Karabakh Airport Preparing For First Flights In Decades|url=http://www.rferl.org/content/nagorno_karabakh_airport_preparing_for_first_flights_in_decades/2288735.html|publisher=RFE/RL|access-date=28 January 2011|date=January 27, 2011|archive-date=30 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110130222516/http://www.rferl.org/content/nagorno_karabakh_airport_preparing_for_first_flights_in_decades/2288735.html|url-status=live}} Air navigation equipment was also installed. The authorities claim that the renovated airport will be capable of receiving 200 passengers every hour.{{cite news |url=http://news.am/eng/news/46625.html |title=Stepanakert airport to work after 10-year break |website=News.am |date=February 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191007124101/https://news.am/eng/news/46625.html |archive-date=2019-10-07 }}

On April 5, 2011, it was announced that the opening of the airport had been postponed.{{cite news|url=http://www.rferl.org/content/nagorno_karabakh_flights_hold_airport_reconstruction/24116168.html|title=Nagorno-Karabakh Flights On Hold Despite Airport Reconstruction|date=May 16, 2011|publisher=RFE/RL|access-date=May 16, 2011|archive-date=May 18, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518164852/http://www.rferl.org/content/nagorno_karabakh_flights_hold_airport_reconstruction/24116168.html|url-status=live}} Dmitry Adbashyan, the head of NKR Civil Aviation Service announced that the airport launch would take place in summer of 2011.{{cite news|title=Stepanakert airport to start operating before September|url=http://int.armradio.am/?part=1&id=96678|access-date=19 May 2011|newspaper=ArmRadio|date=2011-05-11|archive-date=2011-07-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727134700/http://int.armradio.am/?part=1&id=96678|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Construction works of Stepanakert airport underway|url=http://news.am/eng/news/59382.html|access-date=19 May 2011|newspaper=NEWS.am|date=May 15, 2011|archive-date=22 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522041735/http://news.am/eng/news/59382.html|url-status=live}} NKR officials also insisted that the postponement was not related to the ongoing dispute with Azerbaijan.{{cite news|url=http://armenianow.com/karabakh/28773/karabakh_civil_aviation_airport|title=Stepanakert airport opening postponed for 'technical reasons'|date=April 6, 2011|publisher=ArmeniaNow|access-date=April 6, 2011|archive-date=July 19, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719224310/http://armenianow.com/karabakh/28773/karabakh_civil_aviation_airport|url-status=dead}}

Shortly after the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Civil Aviation Department's statement announcing the May 9, 2011 opening date, Arif Mammadov, director of Azerbaijan's Civil Aviation Administration warned that according to aviation laws, flights from Yerevan to Stepanakert are not authorized and may be shot down.{{cite news|url=http://www.eurasianet.org/node/63094|title=Azerbaijan: Flights to Nagorno Karabakh Will Be Boarding at Gunpoint|date=March 17, 2011|publisher=EurasiaNet|access-date=March 17, 2011|archive-date=March 21, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110321015824/http://www.eurasianet.org/node/63094|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=azerbaijan-threatens-to-down-armenian-flights-2011-03-17|title=Azerbaijan threatens to down Armenian flights|date=March 17, 2011|newspaper=Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review|access-date=April 25, 2011|archive-date=March 20, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110320023801/http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=azerbaijan-threatens-to-down-armenian-flights-2011-03-17|url-status=live}}

The NKR response came from David Babayan, head of the central information department of the NKR President's office, who said that the Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army "will give an adequate response" if Azerbaijan attempts to shoot down an aircraft.Ghazinyan, Aris. "[http://armenianow.com/karabakh/28436/azeri_threat_nkr_airport Air Message: Response to threats against the new airport in Stepanakert] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719224219/http://armenianow.com/karabakh/28436/azeri_threat_nkr_airport |date=2011-07-19 }}." ArmeniaNow. March 22, 2011. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan condemned the threat to shoot down civilian aircraft, dismissing it as "nonsense".{{cite news|url=http://asbarez.com/94544/sarkisian-says-he%E2%80%99ll-be-1st-passenger-of-the-yerevan-stepanakert-flight/|title=Sarkisian Says He'll be 1st Passenger of the Yerevan-Stepanakert Flight|date=March 31, 2011|newspaper=Asbarez|access-date=31 March 2011|archive-date=12 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110412054841/http://asbarez.com/94544/sarkisian-says-he%E2%80%99ll-be-1st-passenger-of-the-yerevan-stepanakert-flight/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Armenian leader to defy plane attack threat|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=armenian-leader-to-defy-plane-attack-threat-2011-03-31|newspaper=Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review|date=March 31, 2011|agency=Agence France-Presse|access-date=2011-05-19|archive-date=2021-02-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204045712/https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/|url-status=live}} Sargsyan also said that he would be the first passenger of the inaugural Yerevan-Stepanakert flight.

The Azerbaijani presidential administration condemned Sargsyan's statement as a provocation on the part of Armenia. A few days later, Elkhan Polukhov, spokesman for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, declared that “Azerbaijan did not and will not use force against civil facilities.”"[http://www.azatutyun.am/content/article/3544262.html Baku Retreats From Karabakh Flight Threats] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321170021/http://www.azatutyun.am/content/article/3544262.html |date=2012-03-21 }}." RFE/RL. April 1, 2011.

The United States Assistant Secretary, Philip H. Gordon, as well as then ambassadors to Azerbaijan and Armenia, Matthew Bryza and Marie L. Yovanovitch, respectively, characterized Azerbaijan's threat as "unacceptable"; and advised that issues related to the security of the airport should be solved before its opening.[http://turkey.usembassy.gov/pr_041911.html Foreign Press Center With Philip H. Gordon, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402144608/http://turkey.usembassy.gov/pr_041911.html |date=2015-04-02 }}, Embassy of the United States in Turkey, Tuesday, April 19, 2011[http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/world/news/67788/ U.S. Department of State: threats to shoot down Karabakh-bound planes unacceptable] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924103431/http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/world/news/67788/ |date=2015-09-24 }}, PanArmenian.Net, April 20, 2011"[http://www.tert.am/en/news/2011/03/29/bryza-stepanakert-airport/ Security issues should be resolved before opening Stepanakert Airport - Mathew Bryza] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318204850/http://www.tert.am/en/news/2011/03/29/bryza-stepanakert-airport/ |date=2012-03-18 }}." Tert.am. March 29, 2011."[http://www.rferl.org/content/us_urges_armenia_azerbaijan_to_withdraw_snipers/2343653.html U.S.: Armenia, Azerbaijan 'Must Pull Out Snipers'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818075336/http://www.rferl.org/content/us_urges_armenia_azerbaijan_to_withdraw_snipers/2343653.html |date=2016-08-18 }}." RFE/RL. March 19, 2011."[http://news.am/eng/news/52467.html Azerbaijan’s statements quite unacceptable, U.S. Ambassador says] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101105942/https://news.am/eng/news/52467.html |date=2019-01-01 }}." News.am. March 23, 2011.

The OSCE Minsk Group, which mediates the conflict, reaffirmed that the operation of this airport could not be used to support any claim of a change in the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, and urged the sides to act in accordance with international law and consistent with current practice for flights over their territory.[http://www.osce.org/mg/92189 Statement of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122015706/http://www.osce.org/mg/92189 |date=2013-01-22 }}.

The United States ambassador to Azerbaijan Richard Morningstar stated in November 2012 he was "convinced that the functioning of the airport would not help the peace process."Rauf Orujov. [http://www.zerkalo.az/2012/gosdep-o-hodzhalinskom-aerodrome/ State Department on Khojaly Airport: Ambassador Made Clearer Statement] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150531160653/http://www.zerkalo.az/2012/gosdep-o-hodzhalinskom-aerodrome/ |date=2015-05-31 }}. Zerkalo. 5 November 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2013.

File:NK-parad-6-1200.png

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, who stated “that such provocative actions will not serve to promote the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict," and called on Armenia "to stop such provocative steps.”"[http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=144768 Turkish Foreign Minister expresses his attitude to the Armenia’s plan to build Airport in the occupied territories] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325182631/http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=144768 |date=2012-03-25 }}." APA. The GUAM's Secretary General Valeri Chechelashvili responded by stating that the airport was within the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan and can not operate without Azerbaijan's permission.{{cite news|url=http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=146461|title=GUAM Secretary General Valeri Chechelashvil: "The international airport can not operate in Nagorno Karabakh"|date=May 4, 2011|publisher=Trend|access-date=4 May 2011|archive-date=25 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325183017/http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=146461|url-status=dead}}

On April 14, 2011, 23 members out of 324 from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) endorsed a declaration condemning "the construction by Armenia of an airport in the occupied Azerbaijani territories."{{cite news|url=http://assembly.coe.int/Main.asp?link=/Documents/WorkingDocs/Doc11/EDOC12590.htm|title=The construction of an airport in the occupied Azerbaijani territories by Armenia|date=April 14, 2011|publisher=Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe|access-date=April 14, 2011|archive-date=April 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110415180606/http://assembly.coe.int/Main.asp?link=%2FDocuments%2FWorkingDocs%2FDoc11%2FEDOC12590.htm|url-status=live}}

The Turkish government condemned the efforts of Armenia to open the airport, and reiterated that it will close its air space to Armenia, if the opening goes ahead.[http://ermenihaber.am/?lang_id=1&news_=3&cur_news=183 Türkiye Ermenistan`a hava sahasını kapatacak] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140829234718/http://ermenihaber.am/?lang_id=1 |date=2014-08-29 }} Ermenihaber.am. October 12, 2012. {{in lang|tr}}

It was expected that the airport would have regular flight services only to Yerevan, Armenia, with state-owned carrier Artsakh Air. Also referred to as Artsakhavia, the state airline was created on January 26, 2011, and scheduled to operate from the airport beginning in 2017.[http://asbarez.com/92408/karabakh-gears-up-for-first-comercial-flights-in-decades/ Karabakh Gears Up For First Commercial Flights in Decades] Asbarez.com, 26 January 2011.[http://www.armenews.com/article.php3?id_article=66983 Stepanakert L’aéroport rouvre en mai après 20 ans de fermeture] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130161212/http://www.armenews.com/article.php3?id_article=66983|date=2016-11-30}} Nouvelles d'Armenie Magazine, 28 January 2011. (French)[http://www.golosarmenii.am/ru/20080/headlines/8409/ Баку против "Эйр Арцаха"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317185523/http://www.golosarmenii.am/ru/20080/headlines/8409/|date=March 17, 2012}} GolosArmenii.am, 29 January 2011. (Russian)[http://www.epress.am/2011/01/27/%D5%BD%D5%BF%D5%A5%D6%83%D5%A1%D5%B6%D5%A1%D5%AF%D5%A5%D6%80%D5%BF%E2%80%93%D5%A5%D6%80%D6%87%D5%A1%D5%B6-%D5%BD%D5%BF%D5%A5%D6%83%D5%A1%D5%B6%D5%A1%D5%AF%D5%A5%D6%80%D5%BF-%D5%A9%D5%BC%D5%AB%D5%B9/ Epress.am] 27 January 2011. (Armenian)[http://blog.aviasg.com/airlines-worldwide/will-may-9th-mark-victory-for-artsakh-air/ Will May 9th mark victory for Artsakh Air?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429071621/http://blog.aviasg.com/airlines-worldwide/will-may-9th-mark-victory-for-artsakh-air/|date=April 29, 2011}} Avia Time It had a head office on the grounds of the airport. It intended to purchase three Bombardier CRJ200 jets in 2011. Officials have only stated that a one-way air ticket to the Armenian capital would cost 16,000 drams (US$45). However, flights did not get started.{{cite web| url = https://eurasianet.org/karabakhs-airport-still-waiting-for-takeoff| title = Karabakh's airport still waiting for takeoff {{!}} Eurasianet}}

{{Portal|Aviation|Transport}}

• Transport in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
• List of airports in Armenia
• List of airports in Azerbaijan
• Transport in Armenia
• Transport in Azerbaijan

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category-inline|Stepanakert Airport}}

• [https://hetq.am/en/article/125991 Stepanakert Airport: How Armenians Hoodwinked Soviet Azerbaijan and Rebuilt Vital Transport Link]

{{Airports in Azerbaijan}}

{{List of airports in Europe}}

{{Asia in topic|List of airports in}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Airports in Azerbaijan

Category:Nagorno-Karabakh

Category:Defunct airports