Ardabil-Baku direct flights planned
By Sara Rajabova
Launching direct flights between Iran's Ardabil city and Azerbaijan's capital city Baku is on the agenda, Iran's IRNA agency reported.
Deputy Director of Ardabil airport Mohammad Kassabi said on February 25 that currently the transport and transit infrastructures are being strengthened at Ardabil airport for launching the Ardabil-Baku flight.
However, Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) spokesman Maharram Safarli said there are no discussions on the opening of direct flights from the above-mentioned city to Baku.
Currently, there are direct flights between Iranian and Azerbaijani capitals - Tehran and Baku.
The head of Ardabil province's Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Organization Yahya Taghizadeh said some 391,000 Azerbaijani citizens visited Ardabil in the first nine months of the current Iranian calendar year (began on March 20, 2013).
Some 49 percent of Azerbaijani citizens visiting Ardabil come here for treatment, according to Taghizadeh.
He also emphasized the necessity of organizing joint exhibitions in Iran and Azerbaijan for demonstrating tourist, trade and therapeutic potential of Ardabil and participation of Azerbaijan in these exhibitions.