It’s been a while since we’ve had reviews of flights to Yerevan on our website. Which is quite strange, since flights through Armenia are quite popular in our country. I’ll fill this gap with two reviews of flights from Sochi to Yerevan and back.
I specially bought tickets for 2 different Armenian carriers to make it interesting and varied.
My train to Armenia took place in October 2024.
A little about Armenian Airlines
The first part of my journey fell on airline "Armenian Airlines". Behind the loud name is not the former national airline of Armenia, created on the basis of the Soviet Aeroflot and flying in 1991-2004. This name was chosen for itself by a new private airline created in 2022.
This young Armenian carrier had a rocky start. The company has made up its fleet of only 2 Airbus A321 began flying in March 2023. But loading and properly maintaining such large aircraft proved to be no easy task. Reviews about the airline were not very good - frequent delays, difficulties with refunds, mediocre equipment and service.
As a result, in the fall of 2025, Armenian Airlines curtailed its activities and suspended flights. The airline's owners decided to restart their business. They abandoned the Airbus A321 and took smaller Boeing 737-800 (also 2 sides). The carrier plans to resume flights in the summer of 2026, but right now this airline is not operating any flights.
Departure from Sochi
The most convenient way to get to the airport from the center of Sochi is the Lastochka electric train. It is especially convenient that the Sochi railway station is located next to the bus station. You can arrive in Sochi by bus and immediately transfer to the Lastochka to the airport.
In recent years, trains to the airport have begun to run much more often. It is not difficult to find a departure convenient for departure.
Travel time takes approximately 45 minutes with several stops at key resort stations - Matsesta, Khosta, Adler. The railway runs along the sea, but just before the airport it goes uphill. Outside the window there is a view of the airport.
The station at the airport was built for the Sochi Olympics in 2013. The platform is connected directly to the passenger terminal.
The station is elevated above the ground and is located even above the departure area. To get to the terminal, you first need to go downstairs and walk a little along the covered corridor.
At the entrance to the terminal, the flow of passengers from the train intersects with passengers arriving by taxi. It turns out to be a rather cramped narrow neck at the entrance to the terminal.
For registration of international flights at Sochi airport there is a separate hall - an area with the letter C. It is located in the right wing of the terminal, next to the exit to the railway platform.
I check in at the counter and proceed to departure.
The sterile area at Sochi airport is the weakest point. The terminal is basically already obsolete. The building was designed back in the 1980s. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the unfinished facility became a long-term construction project, which was revived in the 2000s and completed in time for the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
Although the terminal looks new and fresh, the corridor-type project itself with narrow spaces and low ceilings creates a feeling of cramped space. You experience similar feelings at Sheremetyevo-2 (currently unused terminal F).
For the existing passenger flow at Sochi airport it is already a bit crowded.
The geography of flights from Sochi can be tracked on the board. In fact, the whole country.
If possible, it is better to spend time in the business lounge before departure. There are two of them in the departure area - the “Business Lounge” itself (more cool) and the “Extended Comfort Lounge” (simpler).
On board the Armenian Airlines
The fleet of the "Armenian Airlines" airline previously consisted of only 2 aircraft Airbus A321 (number EK-AAB and EK-AAD).
Both aircraft were registered in Armenia.
EK-AAD was assigned to my flight.
What do we see inside? The airliner is designed in a dense tourist layout - one economy class passenger cabin with a capacity of 220 passengers.
The board is quite recent - manufactured in 2012. The interior is not perfect, but in good condition. On a 5-point scale, I would rate it 4 points.
The backrests are thin and the seat pitch is tight. There is a folding table. I wouldn't want to fly far in this condition. However, it is quite suitable for short flights.
All service signs in the cabin are duplicated in Armenian.
The overhead panels and luggage racks are standard for medium-haul flights Airbus.
Service on board
The flight from Sochi to Yerevan is very short. The flight time is just over an hour. It is clear that on such a flight, which essentially consists only of takeoff and landing, one cannot expect any super-service.
Entertainment includes a demonstration of safety instructions. Part of the flight takes place over the sea, so the briefing includes the rules for using life jackets.
The only catering included is water, which is served during a short 15-minute segment of horizontal flight. I would like to note that despite its small size, the airline took care of manufacturing branded cups.
Next, almost immediately after drinking a glass of water, the descent and inspection of the beauties of Armenia before landing.
Views from the window
Contemplation of what is happening behind I would call on board the most interesting activity during the flight from Sochi to Yerevan.
First, let's look at the neighbors on the Sochi platform. Sochi is one of the few airports where you can meet the entire multi-colored palette of Russian carriers. Every self-respecting domestic airline must have flights to the main Black Sea resort in its schedule.
Boeing-757-200 of Azur Air:
Airbus A320neo in the livery of S7 Airlines:
Airbus A321neo Aeroflot:
At the far gates are airliners of Ural Airlines and UTair Airlines.
Central section of the passenger terminal:
Separate terminal for VIP delegations:
Airport control tower:
View of Adler at the time of takeoff:
Excellent view of the Olympic Park and the Black Sea coast towards Abkhazia:
Close-up of the main Olympic stadium "Fisht":
The plane takes off towards the sea. At some point, the water and the sky merge into something single with an indistinguishable boundary.
The Caucasus ridge was covered with clouds. The earth appeared already as it descended over Armenia.
Trivial Armenian villages are surrounded by green fields contrasting with the scorched earth.
Large regional center Armavir with a unique radial-ring layout:
The only nuclear power plant in Armenia, located next to the Armenian atomic city - the city of Metsamor, 26 km from Yerevan:
The outskirts of the city of Vagharshapat - the spiritual capital of Armenia.
Spiritual due to the fact that Holy Etchmiadzin is located here - the seat of the Catholicos of all Armenians, that is, the Supreme Patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
Holy Etchmiadzin includes a monastery built in the 17th-18th centuries and a theological academy. The central element of the complex is the Etchmiadzin Cathedral. The cathedral is notable for the fact that it is considered one of the most ancient Christian churches on the planet, since it was founded back in 303. Today, the appearance of the cathedral is, of course, not the same. Over its history, it was rebuilt and expanded several times. The cathedral received its modern state in the 17th-18th centuries.
Already before landing, another spiritual landmark is clearly visible - the Church of St. Hripsime, built in 618.
A few more minutes of flight over the microdistricts along the highway Yerevan-Vagharshapat...
...and the plane lands at Zvartnots airport of the Armenian capital.
Arrival in Yerevan
What do we see upon arrival in Yerevan? There are 2 terminal buildings adjacent to the apron.
The old round concrete terminal with a large tower on the left,...
...and a modern "glass" rectangular passenger terminal on the right.
The new passenger terminal was built in the early 2000s. Today, this modern building fully serves all flights from/to Yerevan. The old building is abandoned and not in use.
A cargo terminal has been built to the right of the passenger terminal. Very small for a capital airport. The flow of air cargo to Yerevan is obviously not large.
At the edge of the apron you can see the remains of old Soviet equipment in the livery of Armenian Airlines from the 1990s.
Tu-154 and An-24 are probably used for training rescue services.
Zvartnots gives the impression of a strong regional European airport. There are very few aircraft on the apron.
The area to the left of the terminals is probably reserved for maintenance. During my visit, there were a FlyOne A320 and an unidentified Boeing 737 in a neutral white livery parked here.
Passengers disembark through the jet bridge. The airport is equipped with 5 jet bridges. Apparently this is enough for the existing traffic.
Upon exiting, the old concrete air terminal appears in its full glory. I would like to say a few words about this unique building. An architectural monument of Soviet modernism today is in limbo.
The air terminal project was created by Armenian architects led by Arthur Tarkhanyan in the 1970s. taking into account the experience of leading European airports of that time. In addition to the unusual architectural form, advanced methods were used to separate the flow of arriving and departing passengers (they are separated not only on different floors, but also on different circles of the round building). The tower in the center of the building housed not only a control center, but also a restaurant with panoramic views of Mount Ararat.
But, unfortunately, there was no place for the unique Soviet heritage in the airport development project. To serve passengers, a new terminal was built “from scratch,” but what will happen to the old building is not yet clear. If not for its historical and cultural significance, the air terminal would have been demolished long ago. It is expensive to maintain a building, and there is no profitable use for it.
While there is debate in Armenia about the fate of the building, it is slowly being destroyed. I hope that Armenia will still find the means to preserve this facility and repurpose it into a business center, hotel, aviation museum or something similar. I would not want to lose this most original airport terminal of the USSR era.
Well, passengers of today's flights pass by old concrete structures and follow glassed passages to the new passenger terminal.
Final look of the Airbus A321, which brought me here from Sochi.
Nearby is preparing to take off to Europe on board the Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air.
Zvartnots Airport
Since there are no domestic flights in Armenia, flights are only international, the path of any passenger upon arrival leads to border control.
Although there are visas between Armenia and Russia no, you still need to make a note in your passport. Why do you need to stand in line for a while at border control.
Next is the standard baggage claim area. There is no customs inspection for Russians. You take your things and move on to the exit.
A useful detail for a traveler! At Zvartnots Airport, a Duty-Free store operates in the arrivals area. Moreover, with the correct reduced prices, the same as in the departure area.
Next, exit to the general area. In the passenger terminal, the lower floor of the building is reserved for arriving passengers, and the upper floor for departing passengers.
Arrivals services are standard for any airport. Taxi stand, banks with exchangers, car rental points.
The board shows arriving flights. During the evening (from 18 to midnight) I counted 14 arrivals from different countries.
A useful addition here is a pleasant waiting area where you can comfortably sit and recharge your phone.
The general view of the lower floor of the terminal is as follows:
Escalators in the center of the terminal lead to the upper level of the departure area. I’ll tell you about the top floor in the next review, when I describe the flight from Yerevan. Here I will limit myself to a look at Zvartnots airport from the point of view of an arriving passenger.
View from the escalator of the arrival area:
The exit from the terminal to the city is nearby.
The place at the exit is reserved for taxis and greeters And on the second line there is a public transport stop.
From Zvartnots airport to the city of Yerevan you can easily and cheaply get by bus. Route number 100 goes to the city center.
My type of transport this time is car rental. I booked a car at the Armenian branch of the international company Hertz. Booked through the global website hertz.com. The office of this car rental company can be found among others in the arrivals area.
It should be noted that staff do not sit in car rental offices all the time. There are not many car renters in Yerevan. Therefore, employees come to the office only for a specific order. You fill out the documents, take the keys and then go to pick up the car in the multi-story parking lot opposite the terminal. There are special places here for car rental companies.
I pick up my Volkswagen and hit the road through the beauties of Armenia. By the way, I returned the car without the participation of a car rental employee. I just parked the car in the same parking lot where I picked it up and threw the keys into the box at the car rental counter. The deposit was later returned to the bank card.
My return flight from Yerevan to Sochi took place a week later. I don't like to repeat airlines if possible. Therefore, for my next flight I chose another carrier called "FlyOne Armenia". This Armenian low-cost airline with Moldovan roots is quite successfully developing its route network from Yerevan.
My next review will be about this airline.
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