Throughout 2025, Azerbaijan’s aviation sector has maintained a
trajectory of sustainable development, characterized by growing
transit potential and strengthened international confidence. The
provision of air navigation services to more than 342,000
flights within the country’s airspace, representing a
10.5% increase compared to 2024, clearly
demonstrates the reliability of the aviation infrastructure and the
strengthening of Azerbaijan’s position as a regional transportation
hub.


The peak period of air traffic activity occurred during the
summer months. A historic record was registered on 9 August 2025,
when 1,101 flights were managed within a single day.


Transit flights accounted for 76% of total operations, exceeding
261,000 flights over the year. Transit traffic increased by
approximately 14%. Among the leading global airlines utilizing
Azerbaijan’s airspace for transit operations were Turkish Airlines,
Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Thai Airways, and
Lufthansa.


Passenger Traffic Growth at Heydar Aliyev International
Airport


Throughout 2025, Heydar Aliyev International Airport served more
than 7.640 million passengers.


International routes accounted for 6.895 million passengers. Of
this volume, 51.2% were carried by foreign airlines, while 3.362
million passengers were transported by the national carrier.


During the year, flights were operated to 75 international
destinations by 40 foreign airlines. The most popular destinations
included Istanbul, Tbilisi, Dubai, Ankara, and Moscow.


At the same time, the number of transit passengers passing
through Heydar Aliyev International Airport approximately 974,000 —
an increase of approximately 30% compared to 750,000 recorded in
2024.


Positive Performance of the National Carrier
AZAL


In 2025, the national airline Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL)
transported 4.16 million passengers. On the Baku–Nakhchivan route,
passenger numbers reached 735,000.







While overall passenger traffic increased by 2%, the number of
flights operated on this route grew by 6%, reaching a total of
7,261 flights.


Aviation Infrastructure Development and Strengthening of
International Standing


The year 2025 also marked a significant strategic milestone in
Azerbaijan’s aviation history. The third international airport
constructed in the liberated territories - Lachin International
Airport was officially commissioned. This project makes a
substantial contribution to regional socio-economic development and
reinforces Karabakh’s position on the country’s aviation map.


In addition, Heydar Aliyev International Airport was once again
awarded the title of “Best Airport in Central Asia and the CIS” at
the Skytrax World Airport Awards, reaffirming its status as a
leading regional hub. The airport also achieved Level 3
accreditation under the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) program,
began participation in the Airport Service Quality (ASQ) program
implemented by ACI World, and successfully passed the APEX in
Safety evaluation.


Strengthening AZANS’ International Role


During this period, Azeraeronavigation Air Traffic Control
(AZANS) significantly strengthened its position on international
platforms. The organization participated in the CANSO ANSP Summit
and Airspace World 2025, established strategic cooperation with the
UK’s NATS, and expanded partnerships with ICAO and other leading
international ANSPs.


AZANS was also announced as the winner in the “Collaboration and
Community” category at the ATM Awards 2024.


Overall, the results of 2025 once again confirm that
Azerbaijan’s aviation sector is developing in a consistent and
systematic manner, strengthening international integration,
enhancing safety standards, and consolidating its position as a
strategic leader in the region.