STEPANAKERT (Yerkir Media)—The Stepanakert Airport will begin operations this summer, according to the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Civil Aviation Department head Tigran Gabrielyan.

“Presently, we are completing all documents. The airport and air navigation services are in the process of certification. We are trying to create all legal components that will allow us to carry out flights according to international standards, as well as to do everything so that the adopted legal acts and orders are in complete accordance with ICAO [International Civil Aviation Organization] requirements and limitations. We are in the final stages of this process,” explained Gabrielyan.

The civil aviation head said that while final pricing has not been determined, the anticipation is that it would affordable, with flights taking place every day, and with plans to increase the daily schedule depending on demand.

Gabrielyan explained that the airport has a capacity for 100 passengers per hour. He also announced that the carrier will be called Air Artsakh.

In an earlier talk with Novosti Armenia, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Prime Minister Ara Harutunyan that while initially the airport will operate flights between Stepanakert and Yerevan, in the future it will also serve other destinations.

The announcement last year of the completion of the airport construction and its operation prompted Azerbaijan to threaten to shoot down passenger flights. In response President Serge Sarkisian said he would be the first passenger on the first flight. Sarkisian added that he people of the Nagorno-Karabakh had the inalienable right to use their airspace.