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.jpg) Azerbaijan AirlinesBoeing 767-300 | |||||||
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| Founded | 7 April 1992; 33 years ago (1992-04-07) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hubs | Heydar Aliyev International Airport | ||||||
| Frequent-flyer program | AZAL Miles | ||||||
| Subsidiaries |
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| Fleet size | 35 | ||||||
| Destinations | 54[1] | ||||||
| Parent company | Government of Azerbaijan via AZCON Holding | ||||||
| Headquarters | Baku, Azerbaijan | ||||||
| Key people | Samir Rzayev (president) | ||||||
| Revenue |  AZN 1.149 billion (2022) | ||||||
| Operating income | AZN 258 million (2022) | ||||||
| Net income | AZN 110 million (2022) | ||||||
| Total assets | AZN 2.241 billion (2022) | ||||||
| Total equity |  AZN 772 million (2022) | ||||||
| Employees | 7,011[2] | ||||||
| Website | azal.az | ||||||
Azerbaijan Airlines (Azerbaijani:Azərbaycan Hava Yolları), also known asAZAL, is the nationalflag carrier and largestairline ofAzerbaijan. Based inBaku, adjacent toHeydar Aliyev International Airport, the carrier operates to destinations acrossAsia, theCommonwealth of Independent States (CIS), andEurope.
The airline was founded on 7 April 1992 as the first national airline established after the country gained independence. The state-owned company was privatized in the 2000s, during which ownership of the company's assets ended up in the hands of companies owned by family members of Azerbaijani political elites, including PresidentIlham Aliyev's daughterArzu Aliyeva.
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The first air squadron in Azerbaijan was formed on 2 June 1938. This date was declared the Azerbaijan Civil Aviation Day under the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in 2006. During the period from 1941 to 1945, Azerbaijan aviation worked under the motto "All for the Front".[3][4]
In 1990, Azerbaijan announced that it was setting up its own airline, and that it would be independent ofAeroflot, the long-time provider of air services for theSoviet republics. Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) was officially established on 17 August 1992. Its first president was Vagif Sadykhly.[5]
Formed from the regional branch ofAeroflot, Azerbaijan Airlines, also known as Azerbaijan Hava Yollari, soon spread its wings into the world outside the Soviet Union, which had been Aeroflot's exclusive domain. A scheduled Baku-Istanbul route was launched in January 1991 in partnership withTurkish Airlines, and the cargo enterprise Aviasharg was created in cooperation with theUnited Arab Emirates. AZAL inherited a huge fleet from Aeroflot, including more than 20 Soviet-made Tupolev airliners, some regional airliners and freighters, 90 light aircraft, and 50 helicopters. It was quick to lease a pair ofBoeing 727s, however, that once belonged toPan Am (and were built in 1968). AZAL had an extensive involvement with the Farhad Azim associated Aviation Leasing Group (ALG), a U.S.-based lessor of Boeing 727s.[6][7] It had a transatlantic charter cargo joint venture with ALG'sBuffalo Airways, which was also training AZAL aircrews to Western standards inDallas,Texas.
In November 1994, AZAL began a route toDubai, which, along withIstanbul, was a key source of Western goods. It was soon also flying toTehran,Tel Aviv,Saint Petersburg,London, andChina. Service to several regional destinations was suspended in mid-1998, due to low margins and the need to repair three Yak-40 aircraft. With the exception of a few major cities, service to neighboringCIS countries was suspended in January 1999, due to debt. These routes were generally unprofitable as well, and were facing new competition from trains. According to theTrend News Agency, domestic flights accounted for only about 16 percent of AZAL's traffic in 1998.[8]
Azerbaijan's border dispute withArmenia overNagorno-Karabakh had delayed financing for two newBoeing 757s from the U.S.Ex-Im Bank. The $66 million loan guarantee was the Ex-Im Bank's first transaction for Azerbaijan, according to Air Transport Intelligence. The financing was also guaranteed by the Azerbaijan government and theInternational Bank of Azerbaijan. TheUnited Kingdom'sExport Credits Guarantee Department guaranteed financing forRolls-Royce engines, utilized by both Boeing 757s.[9]
The first of the 757s was delivered in the fall of 2000. The planes offered the carrier unprecedented range, comfort, and efficiency on long-haul international routes. They also helped project a modern image to the world. The second Boeing 757 to be delivered arrived in December laden with medical supplies due to a recent earthquake in Azerbaijan. In January 2001, AZAL used one of the planes to begin operating aParis-Baku route in collaboration withAir France.[10][11]
After theSeptember 11 attacks, Azerbaijan, like other nations, experienced a noticeable decline in air travel.[12] AZAL was able to remain profitable through 2001, however, and even make progress toward paying off its debt. The airline was soon shopping for more new aircraft as it retired its aging Soviet models. AZAL ordered its first Western-made helicopters in October 2002, purchasing six for EUR 52 million fromEurocopter. AZAL used helicopters to ferry personnel and equipment out tooil rigs in the Caspian Sea.[13]
The state-owned company was privatized in the 2000s, during which ownership of the company's assets ended up in the hands of companies owned by family members of Azerbaijani political elites, including PresidentIlham Aliyev's daughterArzu Aliyeva.[14][15]
In July 2004, two of AZAL's airliners were impounded byTurkey over a 12-year-old debt owed by Azerbaijan's Agriculture Ministry to a Turkish company. In the same month, AZAL ordered newUkrainian-made, 52-passenger AntonovAn-140 turboprops to replenish its regional fleet, paying about $36 million for four planes.[5]
On 22 July 2010, Boeing and Azerbaijan Airlines signed an agreement to substitute two Next Generation 737 airplanes for one767-300ER (extended range) and two 767 Freighters. Including this announcement, Azerbaijan Airlines had a total of eight Boeing airplanes on order: two767-300ERs, two767 Freighters, twoNext Generation 737s and two787-8s.[16] In September 2010, AZAL cancelled an order for the remaining two Next Generation 737s.[17]
Azerbaijan Airlines began direct flights between Baku andBeijing on May 10, 2013, launching direct flights toBeijing Capital International Airport and the first ever service toEast Asia. The route was flown twice a week usingAirbus A340 andBoeing 767 aircraft.[18] The new route provided direct flights between Azerbaijan andChina, fostering closerbusiness andtourism exchanges between thetwo countries. However, at some point in time, their flights were canceled due to increased control fromChinese authorities. The flights between the two countries later resumed. Following Samir Rzayev's meeting with Ding Tao,Chargé d'Affaires of China in Azerbaijan, where they discussed the development of air traffic between Azerbaijan and China and the growing demand, Rzayev and Tao agreed to increase the frequency of flights to Beijing from two times a week to three, and also explored opportunities of adding major cities ofShanghai andGuangzhou to the list of routes of Azerbaijan Airlines. As of April 2025, AZAL operates flights along the Baku-Beijing route three times a week, on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday.[19][20][21]
On 23 and 24 December 2014, Azerbaijan Airlines took delivery of the twoBoeing 787 Dreamliners it had on order.[22] The airline also launched itsPremium Economy product along with the introduction of the 787.[23] On 12 November 2017, Boeing agreed to sell five787-8 aircraft to Azerbaijan Airlines, valued at about $1.9 billion at list prices.[24]
In December 2016, Azerbaijan Airlines announced the creation of alow-cost carrier, AZALJet, to expand its service offerings. However, after one year of operation, it was decided that AZALJet would be replaced byButa Airways, a new airline that operatedEmbraer aircraft. Buta Airways featured its own livery, was staffed independently, and followed a separate tariff policy. On 16 January 2018, Buta Airways commenced its first European service with a weekly flight toSofia. Azerbaijan Airlines and Buta Airways would win in the nomination of "Best Regional Airline in Central Asia and CIS" and "Best Low-Cost Airline in Central Asia and CIS" at the Skytrax 2022 World Airline Awards. On 28 July 2023, it was announced that Azerbaijan Airlines and Buta Airways would merge into a single brand, AZAL, with the consolidation set to take place in October of the same year. In 2022 it was announced retiring its Airbus A340-500 and replace with them with more newer and efficient Airbus A320neo jets 2 years later. This would mark the Airbus A340-500's last commercial flight.[11][25][26]
In June 2024, AZAL was awarded the title of "Best Regional Airline in Central Asia and the CIS" at the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2024 for the second consecutive time. A month later, AZAL started regular flights toKarabakh, marking the first instance of Azerbaijani commercial travel to the region since the end of hostilities. The airline began operating scheduled flights between Baku andFuzuli city, providing direct access to Karabakh and connecting Heydar Aliyev International Airport toFuzuli International Airport.[11][27]
Azerbaijan Airlines is set to launch direct flights between Heydar Aliyev International Airport, andIncheon International Airport which serves theSeoul Metropolitan Area inSouth Korea from May to July 2025, as reported by theState Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan. These flights will be operated once a week, on Fridays, and will continue until mid July 2025. The announcement was made during a tourism event in Seoul, organized by the Azerbaijan Tourism Board, aimed at promotingAzerbaijan’s tourism potential. The event was attended by representatives from South Korea’s tourism industry, media, influencers, and leading Azerbaijani tourism companies. During the event,Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to South Korea,Ramin Hasanov, emphasized that the introduction of direct flights would contribute to strengtheningbilateral relations and boosting tourism exchanges between the two nations.[28][29][30][31]
Thesupervisory board oversees the strategic direction and governance of AZAL. As of March 30, 2021, the composition of the board was approved by President Ilham Aliyev, withRashad Nabiyev, theMinister of Transport, Communications, and High Technologies of the Republic of Azerbaijan, serving as thechairman. Members of the board include Khalid Ahadov, assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Elnur Aliyev, DeputyMinister of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Rahman Hummatov, Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ruslan Alikhanov, Executive Director ofAzerbaijan Investment Holding, Anar Novruzov, Deputy CEO of Azerbaijan Investment Holding, and Fikrat Shirinov, who is the Head of the Tax Policy and Revenue Department of the Office of theMinistry of Finance of the Republic of Azerbaijan.[32][33]
Azerbaijan Airlines features sales and office and representation offices across the world, of which large portion are located in Azerbaijan. Sales offices in Azerbaijan are located in the cities of Baku,Ganja, andNakhchivan, while office and representation offices are located in Baku, Ganja,Lankaran,Sumgait, and Nakhchivan. Sales offices are found throughoutEurasia, as well as theUnited States. InRussia, they are situated in the cities ofKazan,Mineralnye Vody,Yekaterinburg,Krasnoyarsk,Moscow,Novosibirsk,Astrakhan,Saint Petersburg,Perm andNizhny Novgorod. There are also offices inChina,Belarus,Belgium,Iran,France,Netherlands,Georgia,Italy,Germany,Czech Republic,Kazakhstan,Israel,Ukraine,India,Japan,Malaysia, South Korea with its office in the capital city ofSeoul atGimpo International Airport,Spain,Sweden,Turkey,United Arab Emirates,United Kingdom,Uzbekistan,United States andPakistan. Office and representation offices are found in all earlier listed countries andAustria, except for Belgium, Netherlands, India, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan.[34][35][36]
Azerbaijan Airlines operates through several subdivisions, each responsible for key aspects of the airline and aviation sector in Azerbaijan. General Aviation Security Administration is responsible for the safety of general aviation flights. National Air Carrier Azerbaijan Airlines is the primary division operating on behalf of the airline flights. TheNational Aviation Academy offers training in various fields of aviation, includingflight training, airport management, andaircraft maintenance. The Azeraeronavigation (AZANS) Air Traffic Control Department, established in 1996, is tasked with controlling air traffic in the airspace of Azerbaijan, guiding aircraft duringtakeoff, landing, and en route while traveling through the airspace to ensure safe flight operations. Lastly, the AZALOIL Fuels and Lubricants Administration is tasked with providing and administering aviationlubricants and fuels.[37][38][39][40]
Azerbaijan Airlinescodeshares with the following airlines:[41][42]
Azerbaijan Airlines hasinterline agreements with the following airlines:[42]
Azerbaijan Airlines features threetravel classes –Economy Class,Premium Economy Class, andBusiness Class. AZAL also offers a Class Upgrade service, available exclusively at their sales offices and official agencies. Economy Class passengers can enhance their travel experience by upgrading to Business Class or Premium Economy. Additionally, Premium Economy passengers can upgrade to Business Class. By choosing the Class Upgrade service, travelers also gain access to the AZAL Lounge at Heydar Aliyev International Airport. Passengers can upgrade their class of service after purchasing a ticket by contacting Customer Care at least 24 hours before the scheduled flight departure. Upgrades can also be requested duringcheck-in at the airport or on board the aircraft before departure by consulting with the cabin crew.[56][57]
Economy Class on Azerbaijan Airlines offers a range of features and services at an affordable price. Economy Class seats providelegroom and are designed withreclining features and adjustable headrests. Economy Class in Boeing 787 and Boeing 767 aircraft features 10.6-inchtouch screen monitors that offer access to a catalog of films, television series, music, and audio recordings. Airbus A319, Airbus A320, and Boeing 757 planes offer overhead monitors and access to multimedia content via "Wi-Fi Streaming." Azerbaijan Airlines provides passengers withAzerbaijani publications, with the selection varying based on the flight route. Economy Class passengers receive a freebaggage allowance based on ticket price. Additional baggage is available for an additional cost. Meals and beverages are offered on board, depending on the departure time and destination. Special meals are available to suit dietary requirements at least 24 hours before departure.[58]
Premium Economy Class on Azerbaijan Airlines includes seats with extra legroom and wide-angle recline. Passengers receive priority check-in andboarding at airports, as well as priority lane service on departure fromTerminal 1 of Heydar Aliyev International Airport and fast track service on arrival. Access to the AZAL Lounge at Terminal 1 of Heydar Aliyev International Airport is provided, along with priority check-in andbaggage handling. Premium Economy passengers can also access Business Class Lounges at airports where the service is available. The class includes an increased free baggage allowance. Meals and beverages in Premium Economy Class are served onporcelain, and passengers receive a hot towel before each meal. Each Premium Economy Class seat on Boeing 787 aircraft has a 10.6-inch touch screen display with a selection of movies, TV programs, music, and audio recordings. Azerbaijani publications are offered, with the selection varying depending on the flight route. Onlong-haul flights, passengers receive atravel kit containing personal hygiene items, cosmetic products, and accessories. Children up to 6 years old receive a soft toy, while children aged 6-10 receive a children's kit.[59]
Business Class on Azerbaijan Airlines provides seats with extra legroom and wide-angle recline. Business Class passengers are provided with priority check-in and boarding at airports, as well as use of AZAL Lounge at Terminal 1 of Heydar Aliyev International Airport. Priority lane service upon departure and fast track service upon arrival are also available. Business Class passengers have access to Business Class Lounges at airports where the service is provided. An increased free baggage allowance is included. Meals are served along with a variety ofnon-alcoholic andalcoholic beverages, includingchampagne,whiskey,cognac,vodka,gin,beer,liqueur,soft drinks, and local and international wines. A selection of hot drinks is also available. In-flight entertainment includes a selection of recent and classic movies, TV programs, music, and audio recordings. Azerbaijani publications are offered, with the selection varying depending on the flight route. On long-haul flights, passengers receive a travel kit containing personal hygiene items, cosmetic products, and accessories. Children up to 6 years old receive a soft toy, while children aged 6-10 receive a children's kit.[60]
Azerbaijan Airlines offers a range of media content to provide entertainment during the flight. It includes newly releasedHollywood movies, foreign movies,educational documentaries,comedies,music videos,soundtracks, and miscellaneous media files in several language alternatives. Younger travelers also get access to games, cartoons, and animations within the entertainment collection.[61]
AZAL Miles is thefrequent-flyer program of Azerbaijan Airlines, featuring five status levels. The program allows members to earn flight miles and status points when flying with Azerbaijan Airlines. Accumulated flight miles can be redeemed for award tickets or other privileges. Award tickets are available for round-trip or one-way international travel but cannot be used forcharter,transit, ordomestic flights. They are valid for one year from the departure date. The number of flight miles required for award tickets is the same for adults and children. These tickets can only be purchased in the name of the member or their family account members, with the head of the family account authorized to make purchases on behalf of themselves and their family members.
Some of the benefits available to AZAL Miles members include earning bonus flight miles, free of charge changes and refunds on award tickets, and eligibility for cabin upgrades. Access toairport lounges, priority check-in and boarding, and the ability to book seats in advance are also offered to members. Additional benefits include fast track services, additional baggage allowances, and priority baggage handling. The program also offers features such as inviting friends, birthday miles, and a family account to manage miles collectively. Members can recover tickets after flights, reclaim lost miles, and transfer flight miles across accounts. Flight miles can also be converted into status points, and both status points and flight miles can be purchased.[62][63][64]
As of October 2025[update], the Azerbaijan Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft:[65]
| Aircraft | In service | Orders | Passengers | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J | W | Y | Total | Refs | ||||
| Airbus A319-100 | 3 | — | 16 | — | 106 | 122 | [66] | |
| Airbus A320-200 | 10 | — | 20 | — | 126 | 146 | [67] | |
| Airbus A320neo | 5 | 6 | — | — | 186 | 186 | [68][69] | Deliveries from 2026. To replaceBoeing 757-200. |
| Airbus A321neo | — | 6 | TBA | [70] | ||||
| Airbus A340-500 | 2 | — | 36 | — | 201 | 237 | [71] | Last operator of its type. Both aircraft have been stored since 2023.[citation needed] To be replaced byBoeing 787-8. |
| Boeing 757-200 | 4 | — | 22 | — | 158 | 180 | [72] | All aircraft have been stored since 2024.[citation needed] To be replaced byAirbus A320neo family. |
| Boeing 767-300ER | 3 | — | 22 | — | 176 | 198 | [73] | |
| Boeing 787-8 | 2 | 8 | 18 | 35 | 157 | 210 | [74][75][76][77] | Deliveries until 2030. To replaceAirbus A340-500.[78] |
| Embraer E190 | 7 | — | — | — | 106 | 106 | [79] | |
| VIP fleet | ||||||||
| Airbus ACJ319 | 1 | — | VIP | [citation needed] | ||||
| Airbus ACJ320 | 1 | — | VIP | [citation needed] | ||||
| Airbus A340-600 | 1 | — | VIP | [citation needed] | ||||
| Boeing 777-200LR | 1 | — | VIP | [80] | ||||
| Total | 49 | 20 | ||||||
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Azerbaijan Airlines used to operate a number of aircraft, its most common aircraft used to be theTupolev Tu-154 until it was retired in 2013. All the aircraft the airline used to operate since its foundation are listed below.
| Aircraft | Fleet | Introduced | Retired | Notes | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATR 42-500 | 2 | 2007 | 2013 | [citation needed] | |
| ATR 72-200 | 4 | 2007 | 2013 | [citation needed] | |
| Boeing 707-300 | 6 | 1994 | 1998 | [citation needed] | |
| Boeing 727-200 | 6 | 1993 | 2004 | [citation needed] | |
| Canadair CL-44 | 2 | 1997 | 1998 | [citation needed] | |
| Embraer E170 | 1 | 2013 | 2017 | Transferred toButa Airways. | [citation needed] |
| Embraer E190 | 8 | 2013 | 2017 | [citation needed] | |
| 1 | 2024 | Crashed asFlight 8243. | [81] | ||
| Ilyushin IL-76 | 7 | 1993 | 2004 | [citation needed] | |
| Tupolev Tu-134 | 21 | 1993 | 2003 | [citation needed] | |
| 1 | |||||
| 1 | 1995 | Crashed asFlight 56. | |||
| Tupolev Tu-154M | 32 | 1991 | 2013 | [citation needed] |
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Media related toAzerbaijan Airlines at Wikimedia Commons
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| National | |
