News - Turkish Airlines will start daily flights from Istanbul to Yerevan by March 2026.

In a significant move towards ameliorating the long-standing diplomatic chasm, Turkish Airlines is set to commence daily flights between Istanbul and Yerevan starting March 11, 2026. This announcement was made by Serdar Kılıç, the Turkish emissary responsible for the normalization efforts between Turkey and Armenia. This new aviation link signifies a hopeful stride in the complex web of relations that have been strained since 1991 when diplomatic ties were severed following Armenia's independence. The national borders have been closed since 1993, instigated by Ankara amid historical grievances and territorial disputes, notably the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The reinstatement of this flight comes on the heels of incremental diplomatic engagements. In December 2021, both nations appointed special representatives to bridge their differences: Armenia's Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Ruben Rubinyan, and seasoned diplomat, former Turkish ambassador to the United States, Serdar Kılıç. Their efforts have already resulted in direct cargo flights beginning in January 2023, a pivotal step symbolizing the thawing of monumental diplomatic ice. Further developments were underscored on September 24, 2024, when Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan convened in New York. The leaders expressed their readiness to continue the normalization process without preconditions, recognizing the crucial need to renew and revivify bilateral dynamics. In 2025, foreign ministers of both countries convened at the Antalya Diplomatic Forum to discuss ongoing issues and regional international happenings. Moreover, by mid-September 2025, another critical diplomatic discussion in Yerevan led to agreements aimed at accelerating measures for the opening of the land border to third-country nationals and individuals holding diplomatic passports. These dialogues have laid the groundwork for resuming infrastructural connections, specifically discussing the restoration and future operation of the Gyumri-Kars railway and power lines to boost economic ties. While the broader arena of Armenian-Turkish relations remains fraught with historical complexity, the introduction of the daily Istanbul-Yerevan flights marks a calculated move to renew ties and set the stage for further cooperation and mutual advancement.