Turkish Airlines, Türkiye’s national flag carrier, has announced plans to launch direct flights to Armenia, marking a significant step in Ankara’s ongoing efforts to normalize relations with Yerevan after decades of political hostility.

The airline disclosed the development in a regulatory filing on Tuesday, noting that the route would serve Armenia’s capital, Yerevan (EVN). While a launch date and frequency have yet to be determined, the company stated that final scheduling will depend on market demand.

The announcement comes at a time when Türkiye and Armenia have intensified dialogue following a U.S.-brokered peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Türkiye’s key ally in the South Caucasus.

That agreement also outlined plans to reopen a long-discussed transport corridor connecting mainland Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave, which borders Türkiye, through Armenian territory. Previously known as the Zangezur Corridor, the project has now been referred to in diplomatic circles as the “Trump Corridor,” after Washington secured exclusive development rights.

Relations between Türkiye and Armenia have historically been overshadowed by deep-rooted disputes, particularly over the events of World War I and the longstanding conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Artsakh, internationally known as Nagorno-Karabakh.

Armenia and Azerbaijan fought two wars over the enclave, the most recent in 2020, which left more than 6,000 people dead. Türkiye has consistently backed Baku in these conflicts, while its relationship with Yerevan has remained fraught.

The most sensitive issue between the two neighbors remains the mass killings and deportations of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. Armenia and many international bodies describe the events as genocide, a characterization Türkiye firmly rejects.

Despite historical grievances, the decision by Turkish Airlines to add Yerevan to its route map is seen by many analysts as a symbolic step forward in the broader regional reconciliation process. Direct air connectivity, they argue, could facilitate economic ties, people-to-people exchanges, and confidence-building measures between the two nations.

While Turkish Airlines has yet to specify when flights will commence, the move reflects a wider shift in Ankara’s regional policy aimed at easing tensions and fostering stability in the South Caucasus.

Turkish Airlines’ planned service to Yerevan underscores how aviation can play a role in diplomacy, serving as a bridge between societies divided by history and conflict. Whether the move will translate into lasting political reconciliation remains uncertain, but it signals an opening in a region long characterized by mistrust and confrontation. (ILKHA)