BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 13. Azerbaijan
Airlines, part of AZCON Holding, recorded growth in its operations
during the first nine months of 2026, alongside an expanded route
network, new digital services and international recognition.


This was reported by the Press Service of the President of
Azerbaijan.


Between January and September, the airline operated 14,100
flights and carried nearly 3.3 million passengers, including more
than 2.6 million on international routes. The average load factor
stood at 79%, while on-time performance reached 81%. The number of
passengers connecting through Baku increased by 29% compared with
the same period last year, reaching 419,000.


The busiest day of the reporting period was 15 August, when the
airline operated a record 72 flights. By the end of September, its
scheduled network covered 55 destinations.


On the Baku–Nakhchivan–Baku route, Azerbaijan Airlines operated
approximately 3,200 flights and carried nearly 650,000 passengers
over the nine-month period. The route’s busiest day was 15 June,
with 25 flights.


The airline expanded its network with the launch of direct
services to Kars, Atyrau and Aktobe. Tickets also went on sale for
the Baku–Brussels–Baku route.







Several digital services were introduced to make travel more
convenient. Passengers can now make cashless payments on board
using POS terminals. Online payment options were expanded to
include HUMO and UZCARD cards through a partnership with Uzum Bank,
as well as Alipay and WeChat Pay. An instalment payment option was
also introduced for flight tickets.


Passengers can now book the Stopover service online and arrange
car hire through the new Rental Car service. The airline also
expanded online options for purchasing additional baggage and
introduced online ticket refunds in cases such as flight
cancellations.


The period also brought international recognition. Azerbaijan
Airlines was named Best Regional Airline in Central Asia & CIS at
the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2026 and won the Best Inflight
Entertainment and Connectivity in the CIS category at the PAX
International Readership Awards 2026. Its efforts to build a
positive workplace were recognised with Great Place to Work®
certification. Together, these achievements reflect the airline’s
continued focus on service quality, the passenger experience and
workplace culture.


With flight safety remaining its foremost priority, Azerbaijan
Airlines continues to expand its network, improve operational
efficiency and develop its passenger services.