AZAL Azerbaijan Airlines (J2, Baku Heydar Aliev International) has mapped out its network growth plans for the coming years, including maiden operations to Africa, South Asia, South-East Asia, and significant growth in East Asia and Europe.
During a meeting wrapping up the first eight months of 2018 and ahead of the winter season, the Azerbaijani flag carrier said its network priorities include services out of Baku Heydar Aliev International to each of Tokyo, Delhi International, Shanghai Pudong, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, Zhengzhou, Seoul Incheon, Kuala Lumpur International, Amsterdam Schiphol, Vienna, Rome Fiumicino, Amman Queen Alia, Karachi International, Cairo International, and Dushanbe.
The carrier does not currently fly to Africa, India or Pakistan, and South-East Asia. Its network in East Asia is limited to Beijing Capital.
The airline also said it would start operating its B737-8s in 2019, slightly later than previously announced for late 2018. The Azerbaijani carrier will take a total of ten B737 MAX twinjets, with the first two due to deliver in 2019 and the remainder the year after.
AZAL's low-cost subsidiary Buta Airways (Baku Heydar Aliev International) is also set to take two more E190s shortly, on top of six it already operates.
