BIRMINGHAM Airport has become only the second in the country to operate flights to the former Soviet republic of Armenia.The new service was launched earlier this week when an Airbus A319 of Arnavia Airlines touched down at Birmingham from the Armenian capital Yerevan.The airline will now operate flights to Yerevan and on to Delhi every Tuesday, departing Birmingham at 6.55am.It hopes to attract passengers wanting to reach both Armenia and India to visit friends and relatives. The Airbus will have eight business class seats and 126 economy seats.Illarion Gharibyan, deputy director general, for the airline said:There are 20,000 people in the UK of Armenian descent and people can currently only access flights to Armenia from Heathrow so the Birmingham operation will provide more choice for those wanting to reach Yerevan.Birmingham is at a very important phase of its development and we are very excited to be joining the Birmingham team at this time.Paul Kehoe, the airport’s chief executive officer, said: Not only will Armavia Airlines offer people a brand new service to Armenia, it will provide another welcome connection to India, which will be of particular interest to the 200,000 Indian people living in the Midlands.Round trip fares to Yerevan start from £325 excluding taxes and to Delhi from £205.