"Azerbaijan Airlines": history, fleet, service

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

Azerbaijan Airlines, abbreviated as AZAL, is the largest passenger air carrier in Azerbaijan. The stake in the company is wholly owned by the state. The fleet is assigned to the main Baku airport named after Heydar Aliyev.

In 2008, Azerbaijan Airlines successfully passed a complex audit and was admitted to the International Air Transport Association

History

AZAL appeared in April 1992 by decree of the first president of independent Azerbaijan. In general, Heydar Aliyev understood the importance of establishing a national airline, so he spared no expense for its development. Only at the initial stage, more than two hundred million dollars were invested in Azerbaijan Airlines, which went to upgrade the fleet, build infrastructure and train personnel.

At first, the aircraft fleet consisted mainly of Soviet aircraft left as a legacy from the Union. But gradually they were replaced by more reliable and modern Boeings and Airbuses.

And in 2010, AZAL completelyabandoned obsolete Soviet aircraft. This was dictated by the desire of the company's management to meet the world standards of transport aviation and provide a high level of service and maximum safety for passengers. And in this, Azerbaijan Airlines, reviews of which are usually laudatory, are very successful.

Fleet

In the summer of 2017, the AZAL fleet consisted of twenty-six airliners with an average age of 9.6 years. The oldest aircraft is 23 years old, and the newest one is 2.7 years old. The aircraft fleet looks like this:

• 7 "Airbus A 320";
• 4 "Boeing 757-200";
• 4 "Embraer 190";
• 3 "Airbus A 319";
• 3 "Boeing 767-300";
• 2 "Boeing Dreamliner 787-8";
• 2 "Airbus A 340-500";
• 1 "Embraer 170 LR".

Directions

Azerbaijan Airlines flights connect more than thirty cities of Azerbaijan, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. In the fall of 2014, a regular flight to New York appeared.

In addition to domestic passenger traffic, AZAL makes the most flights to Turkey and Russia. Airplanes of Azerbaijan Airlines fly to Moscow, Yekaterinburg, Minvody, Kazan, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, and the company's representative offices are located in the same cities.

Maintenance

Azerbaijan Airlines offers its passengers four classes of service. So, the VIP club has excellent reviews and guarantees the client maximum comfort:

• priority registration;
• personal escort on boarding;
• no delays or delays;
• special menu with delicacies, custom meals and a variety of drinks;
• very comfortable chair that turns into a full bed;
• flight entertainment (music, movies, large 17" screen);
• higher free baggage allowance;
• gifts for children.

Comfort Club offers passenger:

• seats with more legroom and more recline;
• great food;
• priority registration;
• personal escort on boarding;
• no delays or delays;
• 10 inch movie screen;
• slightly lower than the VIP club, but still increased baggage allowance;
• gifts for children.

Business class is more modest than the first two classes, but compares favorably with economy class:

• armchair with increased legroom and a large reclining backrest;
• airport access to business class lounges;
• custom menu;
• higher baggage allowance.

Economy class is the most affordable option in terms of price and the most numerous, while in terms of comfort and quality of service, judging by the reviews, it meets international standards. The passenger is offered ergonomic seats with a 10-inch screen and delicious food.

Azerbaijan Airlines: Luggage and pets

Baggage allowance varies by travel class. For VIP club passengers, the rate is:

• 3 pieces, weighing no more than 32 kilograms;
• 2 hand luggage, weighing no more than 10 kg.

A person who has bought a comfort club or business class ticket can carry:

• 2 oversized baggage, weighing up to 32 kg;
• 2 bags up to 10 kg.

An economy class customer can carry one piece of baggage up to 23 kilograms free of charge and one more, weighing up to 10 kg, to take with them to the cabin. Each subsequent bag will cost 50€.

Pets are transported in a mandatory cage. If the cage with the animal weighs less than 32 kilograms, the passenger will pay 50€ for it. If the weight is more than indicated, but less than 72 kg, then the price will be 100€.

For each subsequent kilogram and centimeter above the norm (the norm for a cell is 158 centimeters in each spatial direction), you will have to pay extra.