Published
06/24/2025, 14:30With road repairs, constant traffic jams, and overloaded city infrastructure, the idea of traveling by air sounds like a real need for people in Bishkek, not just a fantasy. And even though there's no service like this in Kyrgyzstan yet, Armenia is already testing a format that could be interesting for our market.
A new feature has appeared in one of the popular aggregator apps: the ability to order a helicopter. Users can book individual flights along their own route or sightseeing tours to pre-set destinations. The service is provided by the local airline Armenian Helicopters, and flights can be booked directly in the Yandex Go app a couple of hours before departure.
Flights are operated during daylight hours, in good weather, with mandatory briefing and weight restrictions. Up to five people can board, including children and even pets, if they are in a carrier.
Helicopter tours are available to various destinations, including Dilijan, Sevan, Meghri, Goris, the Yerevan Reservoir, the Symphony of Stones, the Garni Gorge, and others. Copter charter flights with custom itineraries can be booked from Yerevan and other cities.
With Bishkek choking on traffic jams and roadworks paralysing the entire city, the idea of travelling by air seems like a logical step towards the future of urban mobility. This is especially true in remote areas or situations where every minute counts.
However, in practice, such flights are still the preserve of the few. The cost is calculated by the minute or at a fixed rate and may vary depending on the route. For example, a flight to the same destination costs almost five times more than a business-class car ride: approximately 68,100 Armenian drams (about $178.5) versus 14,800 drams (about $38.79) for ground transportation.
Despite the price tag, the very fact that a helicopter option has appeared in a taxi app suggests that the model for future urban transport is already being tested, albeit in the premium segment.
