Azernews.Az

BAKU – Azerbaijan's state airline AzAL has received two 170-seat Airbus A320 aircraft, the company's vice-president Eldar Hajiyev told journalists at the presentation ceremony in Baku last Friday.

According to him, AzAL is expected to acquire two more German-made A320 jets in January, while two Airbus A319 planes will be delivered in February.

Hajiyev said the planes are being purchased on account of loans borrowed from major European lenders and these funds will be repaid with AzAL’s revenues. All the planes were manufactured in 2007. Hajiyev did not disclose the amount spent on the purchases.

The AzAL vice-president said the purchase of new planes will allow to expand the scope of the airline's flights, as new flights will be opened to a number of European cities, including Amsterdam, Aberdeen and Karlovy Vary. Also, the airline will increase the number of flights to several cities, including Prague, from 2011.

Moreover, AzAL will buy eight planes under a contract signed with US giant Boeing, including two Boeing 767-300ER planes, two Boeing 767 freighters, two Boeing 737 and two Boeing 787-8 models.

AzAL stopped using the Russian-made TU planes last Friday. So far, TU 134 and TU 154 planes have carried out flights from the capital Baku to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. From now onward, these flights will be administered on board Airbus 320, Airbus 319 and Boeing 757.

History

The history of passenger air transportation of Azerbaijan Republic started in 1923 when regular passenger flights commenced between Baku and Tbilisi, using German-made aircraft Junkers. Before Azerbaijan became independent in 1991, Azerbaijan Airlines was a division of Aeroflot. The Azerbaijani national carrier "Azerbaijan Hava Yollari" operated only regional and domestic flights within the Soviet Union, as Aeroflot had a monopoly on operating international flights.

As Azerbaijan is an independant state, Azerbaijan Airlines operates as the country's national carrier. It is based at Heydar Aliyev International Airport, in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku.

On October 9, 2000 a remarkable event took place in the history of Azerbaijan Airlines - the first brand new Boeing 757-200 was delivered to AZAL at Heydar Aliyev International Airport. Since then the AZAL fleet has been considerably reinforced by the addition of new Boeing and Airbus aircraft. The first Airbus A319, named after second largest city of Azerbaijan "Ganja" joined the AZAL fleet in September 2005. In August 2007 another brand new aircraft - an ATR 42-500, arrived at Heydar Aliyev International Airport. This aircraft is now operating on domestic routes as well as to some international destinations.

The airline has made significant investments in new aircraft, enhancing passenger comfort and safety.