IATA official urges Azerbaijan, Central Asia to adopt clear aviation strategy

Azerbaijan and other countries in Central Asia need a clear and realistic aviation strategy to properly assess their capabilities and competitive advantages, according to Rafael Schvartzman, Regional Vice President for Europe at the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Speaking to Report on the sidelines of the 82nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit (WATS) of IATA, Schvartzman said many countries aspire to become aviation hubs, but not all can realistically achieve this goal.

"Every country dreams of becoming a hub. But for Azerbaijan today, a more important task is developing air connectivity. We need to look at the situation realistically: not all Central Asian countries can simultaneously become international hubs.

Therefore, Azerbaijan, like others in the region, needs a clear aviation strategy that allows a realistic assessment of its position. It is extremely difficult to replicate successful models, as the largest aviation hubs already have strong competitive advantages," he said.

He added that improving intra-regional connectivity represents a key opportunity for growth, noting that domestic demand often plays a critical role in supporting international routes.

"Perhaps improving regional connectivity is the main reserve for growth. Countries should focus on this direction. If we look at Kazakhstan, a significant part of its connectivity is supported by a large domestic market, which also supports international routes. I am not sure Azerbaijan has a comparable domestic market, but domestic demand often becomes the foundation for developing international networks," he noted.

Schvartzman cautioned against comparisons with global aviation hubs such as Dubai, saying such models cannot simply be replicated.

"Copying Dubai or other global aviation hubs is practically impossible. The key question is not whether Azerbaijan will become a hub, but what kind of transport node it wants to be. For this, a clear master plan and understanding of final goals are needed," he said.

He also highlighted the importance of long-term planning in aviation infrastructure development, stressing that not all airports in a country can be developed simultaneously.

"Uzbekistan, for example, has done significant work modernizing Samarkand airport, but flight numbers still do not match its potential. In Kazakhstan, discussions continue about future aviation infrastructure, including a possible second runway in Astana or even a new airport. All this shows how important strategic planning is for the successful development of the industry," he concluded.

By Sabina Mammadli