Starting from October, Puglia will be closer to Armenia

PRESS RELEASE

Bari, May 7, 2025 – Aeroporti di Puglia is pleased to announce the launch of the new Bari–Yerevan route. The flight, an absolute first for Puglia, will be operated by WizzAir starting October 26 and will run twice weekly: on Wednesdays and Sundays. Departures from Yerevan will be at 5:30 AM, arriving in Bari at 6:10 AM, with return flights departing Bari at 6:45 AM and arriving in Yerevan at 1:20 PM. This new route strengthens the international network of Bari Airport and responds to strong demand from the Armenian community residing in Puglia.

“The flight,” said Antonio Maria Vasile, President of Aeroporti di Puglia, “marks an important step forward in the strategy to expand Bari Airport’s connections toward Eastern Europe and the Caucasus. It is the result of carefully listening to the needs of the region, particularly the large and vibrant Armenian community in Bari. The Apulian capital is increasingly becoming a gateway to destinations that have so far been underserved, with positive impacts on tourism, the economy, and international relations. This new route is also a valuable opportunity to boost tourist and cultural flows between Italy and Armenia, offering Italian travelers a destination still relatively unexplored but rich in history, landscapes, and spirituality. It is an important milestone achieved through intense planning, dialogue, and strategic vision by Aeroporti di Puglia and the Region of Puglia, in close synergy with airlines and local communities. Aeroporti di Puglia continues to invest in building a network of connections that make our region ever more accessible, open to the world, and a leading player in the Mediterranean.”

“This connection,” said Michele Emiliano, President of the Region of Puglia, “is much more than just a flight: it is a bridge that unites peoples and opens new horizons for tourism, cultural exchange, and economic relations between our two countries. We are announcing it today as we prepare to celebrate the Feast of Saint Nicholas, a saint who perfectly embodies Puglia’s historic vocation as an open gateway to the world, a crossroads for the civil coexistence of Mediterranean peoples. I thank Aeroporti di Puglia for making this tangible gesture of closeness and brotherhood between peoples, building authentic and profound ties. We are proud to support a project that was born by listening to the Armenian community and has found its realization in a flight that creates opportunities and brings people closer together.”

“I warmly congratulate all involved,” said H.E. Vladimir Karapetyan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to Italy, “on the launch of the direct Yerevan–Bari flight, the result of the tireless efforts of several stakeholders, including the Region of Puglia, Aeroporti di Puglia, WizzAir, and the Honorary Consulate in Bari. This prestigious connection shortens the distance between Southern Italy and Armenia, opening new prospects for cultural, economic, and tourism exchanges. I thank all those who, over the past years, have believed in achieving this result, and I hope this initiative will further strengthen our bilateral cooperation.”

“This new air link between Bari and Yerevan,” said Vito Leccese, Mayor of Bari, “represents an important opportunity to open our city to tourist flows from Eastern Europe, helping to encourage year-round tourism. Most importantly, it allows us to strengthen the cultural and historical bonds with the Armenian community, which, at the beginning of the last century, found refuge in our city. Bari reaffirms its role as a Mediterranean crossroads, increasingly attractive and better connected.”

“I am proud, as a member of the Armenian community,” said Dario Rupen Timurian, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Armenia in Puglia, “to have contributed to the creation of such an important link for Armenia, especially at this pivotal time in history. I am equally proud, as a native of Puglia, of the work carried out by the Region and Aeroporti di Puglia. Their presidents, beyond being great friends and supporters of our community, have worked tirelessly on this project, always ready to meet with us, listen to us, and participate with the dual goal of creating new opportunities both for Puglia and for Armenia.”