Azerbaijan Airlines’ Central Asia passenger traffic climbs 35%

Image: AZAL

Amid strengthening ties between Azerbaijan and Central Asia, AZAL (Azerbaijan Airlines) has significantly expanded its regional route network. With three new Kazakhstan routes launched in three months—Shymkent (June), Atyrau (August) and Aktobe (September)—the carrier now links Baku with 10 cities across four countries, operating 48 weekly flights.

Since the start of 2026, these services have carried approximately 400,000 passengers, up 35% year on year.

Kazakhstan represents Azerbaijan Airlines’ largest Central Asian footprint, with 31 weekly flights to six cities. Almaty, Astana and Aktau are served daily; Atyrau four times weekly; and Shymkent and Aktobe three times weekly.

In Uzbekistan, AZAL operates daily flights to Tashkent and twice-weekly service to Samarkand.

The regional network also includes Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, and Dushanbe, Tajikistan, each served four times weekly.

Central Asian passengers frequently connect through Baku to other international destinations, primarily Europe. Since the start of the year, 58,700 passengers on these routes have transited Baku, reinforcing the airport’s role as a growing regional transit hub.

In a move to deepen its presence in Uzbekistan’s distribution landscape, AZAL has partnered with Uzum Bank to enable online ticket purchases via the carrier’s website using Uzbekistan’s national Humo and Uzcard payment cards, processed through the fintech holding’s secure infrastructure.

Fleet expansion and network growth enabled AZAL to boost its traffic volume in the first half of the year, despite a challenging geopolitical environment in the Middle East.

Under its ongoing modernization program, the airline plans to grow its fleet to 50 aircraft by 2032.