AZAL may open new flights to Russia until 2021

AZAL, the biggest Azerbaijani airline and national flag carrier, plans to establish air service with the Russian Volgograd and Astrakhan cities, as well as with the cities of Russia’s Far East.

AZAL Vice President Eldar Hajiyev announced about this while addressing a press conference in Moscow on November 29.

Hajiyev said these plans are reflected in the company’s program that covers the period of up to 2021.

AZAL is not planning to open new flights in 2017, he added.

On the other hand, the situation may change – due to the sharp increase in the number of tourists coming to Azerbaijan from the Gulf countries, Azerbaijan Airlines almost doubled the number of flights from this region to meet the demand, according to AZAL vice president.

The Baku-based Azerbaijan Airlines operates flights to destinations across Asia, the CIS, Europe and the USA.

He further said that AZAL intends to transport two million passengers till late 2016.

"AZAL transported 1.7 million passengers in 2014, 1.8 million in 2015,” he said, mentioning that AZAL fleet consists of 23 aircrafts and the number of aircraft is expected to be increased by 12 in the next four years.

"AZAL intends to write off three aircraft during that period and thus, the fleet will consist of 32 aircraft within four years," he added.

Moreover, AZAL will increase the number of regular flights from Baku to Moscow. Two flights will be made daily from the Heydar Aliyev International Airport to Moscow Vnukovo airport from March 2017.

The corresponding agreement was signed by AZAL Vice-President Eldar Hajiyev and Vnukovo airport Director General Vasily Alexandrov in Moscow November 29.

Vugar Imamaliyev, advisor to the ambassador of Azerbaijan to Russia, stressed that cooperation between Azerbaijan and Russia in the field of air travel has a long history.

"Azerbaijan and Russia cooperate in many areas,” Imamaliyev said. “The development of tourism is one of the main areas to which the countries are paying attention."

Flights to Moscow are made under the AZALJET budget brand by Airbus A319 aircraft.

Currently, AZAL makes regular flights to four Russian cities. Besides Vnukovo airport, AZALJET makes flights to Moscow Domodedovo Airport, St. Petersburg (Pulkovo airport), Kazan and Mineralnye Vody.

Air tickets can be booked on the website of the company www.azal.az and purchased at AZAL sales offices and official agencies.

AZAL Miles bonus program can be used as part of the flight. Detailed information about AZAL Miles frequent-flyer program

is available at: https://www.azal.az/en/azalmiles/miles-programme To purchase tickets and for more information, please contact: