Baku airport, subway ready for European song contest
The main airport in Baku is ready to receive viewers and tourists during the Eurovision song contest to be held in the Azerbaijani capital in late May, the Azerbaijan Airlines (AzAL) spokesman said last Friday.
Maharram Safarli told Trend news agency that the Heydar Aliyev International Airport`s building has been recently modernized and is fully ready to receive visitors. In particular, the main facade of the building was completely covered with two-layer laminated glass as part of the modernization.
Safarli also said many changes have been made inside the airport building. For instance, 10 smoking booths were installed in the arrival and departure halls of the North and South terminals. Four robots informing passengers about safety rules were installed in both terminals. The floor and ceiling coverings of the airport building and the monitors were replaced and the number of exits doubled.
The process of customs control has been simplified at the airport. The cargo compartment, provided with modern equipment, was upgraded as well, Safarli said.
The AzAL spokesman also said the area of the airport has been expanded. Suitable conditions have been provided for passengers arriving in the Azerbaijani capital to quickly take a taxi.
The Baku subway has said high quality passenger transportation will be ensured during the song contest. Spokesperson Nazakat Tanriverdiyeva said the subway employees have attended special courses to help them deal with the influx of foreign tourists. Tanriverdiyeva also said security in the Baku subway will be provided at a high level during the contest.
The city`s subway system has been operating since 1967 and currently has 23 stations.
The 57th Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Baku Crystal Hall, built on the Caspian shore. The Eurovision 2012 semi-finals will be held on May 22 and May 24 and the final on May 26.
Azerbaijan won the right to host the song contest after the victory of Eldar Gasimov and Nigar Jamal (Ell/Nikki) at Eurovision 2011 in Dusseldorf, Germany.
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