Yerevan Airport

New visa procedure obliges to pay in drams so you have to take your visa at the Armenian Embassy abroad or to change beforehand at a bureau de change close to the visa office (cheaper). In both cases it goes very fast but I guess it depends on the time you arrive. With the visa in my passport from plane board to the exit it took exactly 14 minutes which is fantastic indeed. Longer if you need a visa. The new terminal in Erevan is fine and efficient both when you leave or when you arrive.

First time arriving in Zvartnots. Used brand new terminal quite impressive bright and ultra modern. The queue for the visas could use better management for a start stop people jumping the queue. The visa officers were polite and efficient. Following that joined a huge queue for immigration extremely slow moving. Four flight had arrived at the same time. Being 4 in the morning did not appreciate the long waits over an hour in fact. The immigration officers were slow and "thorough". Luggage retrieval was fine and there is a very nice duty free shop just before the luggage retrieval area. Leaving was fine. Again the new terminal was impressive bright and clean. First time ever was fingerprinted upon checking in for the flight at the airline counter and again upon boarding at the gate. Impressive security.

Arrived at Zvartnots International for the first time in September of 2005 at 5am - no direct connect hall linking airline to terminal upon descending aircraft steps was surrounded by what looked like army soldiers and was told photography was forbidden. At first impression found airport a very unique shape however structure was in terrible shape with crumbling walls and bare lighting. The control tower looked extremely outdated with apparent water stains at top of structure as seen though it's distinct bubble plastic windows. Airport and passport Staff seemed to be very laid back and unwilling to help. Baggage claim was small with very outdated equipent not very organized in handling transfer of bags to owners furthermore complicated by the mass of youngsters hired as ' skycaps'. I was given a ticket once all my bags we're found and told to pay $7US at a baggage check-out 'counter' managed by a rude teenager in order to recieve a stamp allowing me to exit airport. My experience out of Armenia at 3:30am was just as chaotic mass chaos at departure drop off no unloading zone causing cars to back up or side swipe you as you try to get your bags from a vehicle to actual terminal. Once inside there we're no lines seen anywhere just mass crowds of people pushing and shoving through check- in lines. Security check in was unorganized - outdated scanning equipment and a staff that seemed to lack standard airport screening procedures. Again there was no line or order through this procedure either it was basically push and shove your way in to security line or miss your flight kind of a situation. Once behind the security check point and at actual departure gate I was directed to walk down a few level of steps to tarmac level that led me to an old waiting lobby to catch a bus to the aircraft. No security officials we're noted at this location but for two baggage handlers standing outside having a cigarette a few hundred feet away from other airliners refueling. I noticed a Lufthansa airbus that had a covered hall linking it to actual aircraft and it was the only exsiting one noticed. Once bus arrived to my actual Armavia aircraft people just rushed out and pushed their way up the stairs having to show boarding pass to three Armavia Airline official's that simply stood at second level of aircraft stairs with blank looks on their faces not attempting to assist in facilitating passengers with children elderly or women boarding. Overall Zvartonts International needs allot of improvement and I did notice the construction expansion and feel that it's on it's way to imnprovement. Armenia was an amazing experience and the staff at this airport do not reflect the warmth and freindliness the Republic of Armenia offers to it's many visitors. I would definately go through Zvartnots on my next trip without any hesitation hoping it will have transformed and matured to an international class service facility.