Baku–Tel Aviv air links to triple: AZAL unveils major expansion plan

The number of weekly flights between Baku and Tel Aviv is set to rise to 21 starting from May next year, Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC (AZAL) President Samir Rzayev has announced.

According to Caliber.Az, Rzayev shared the news on social network X (formerly Twitter) following his meeting with Israel’s newly appointed ambassador to Azerbaijan, Ronen Krausz.

"During the meeting, we discussed the development of bilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and Israel, particularly the expansion of ties in the field of aviation. We emphasised the importance of joint initiatives and collaborative projects in this direction,” Rzayev wrote.

Highlighting the continued growth in air traffic between the two countries, Rzayev said AZAL plans to further increase flight frequency in response to rising demand.

“A steady growth dynamic has been observed in air transport between Azerbaijan and Israel. As a continuation of this trend, AZAL plans to increase the number of flights in this direction in the near future. Starting from May 2026, the number of weekly flights between Baku and Tel Aviv is expected to reach 21. This step will mark an important stage in expanding air connectivity and boosting mutual passenger traffic,” he stated.

Rzayev noted that in 2024, AZAL operated a total of 303 round-trip flights on the Baku–Tel Aviv–Baku route, averaging 11 flights per week and carrying about 74,000 passengers.

Between January and October 2025, the number of flights rose to 562, including 14 weekly services, with more than 147,000 passengers transported.

“We remain committed to continuing our activities and contributing to the realisation of new opportunities for collaboration,” the head of AZAL added.

By Tamilla Hasanova