Tourism Board CEO: Brussels-Baku route to offer four direct flights week Video by Euronews

Azerbaijan is set to strengthen its connectivity with Europe with four weekly direct flights between Brussels and Baku starting May 8, 2027, the CEO of the Azerbaijan Tourism Board, Florian Sengstschmid, told Euronews.

Speaking at the Euronews Travel & Tourism Summit 2026 in Brussels, Sengstschmid said Azerbaijan Airlines would operate the new route, while describing Baku as a regional hub that has undergone significant transformation over the past decade.

He highlighted Baku Heydar Aliyev International Airport's five-star ranking in Skytrax's regional rankings and noted that Azerbaijan's national carrier was named the best regional airline in Central Asia by Skytrax this year.

Sengstschmid said the new flights would improve connectivity but encouraged visitors to use Baku as a gateway to explore destinations across Azerbaijan.

“It's really to travel beyond Baku – to travel along the Silk Road, through the side valleys, ancient heritage villages,” he said, highlighting the country's UNESCO World Heritage Sites, settlements and cities in the Greater Caucasus Mountains, as well as the Khan's palace.

Among the lesser-known destinations he highlighted was Sim village in southern Azerbaijan, which he described as "a fairy-tale with moss", featuring wooden buildings, waterfalls and diverse fauna and flora.

“It feels a bit like you're in the jungle, but in the middle you're basically in Azerbaijan,” he said. “And this describes the diversity you can experience once you really go out of the city – dive into the country and meet the wonderful, lovely people.”

Sengstschmid also pointed to Azerbaijan's range of climate zones, allowing visitors to experience landscapes ranging from semi-deserts to mountain peaks exceeding 4,000 metres above sea level.

Tourism generated 7 billion Azerbaijani manats (€3.5 billion) in Azerbaijan in 2025, accounting for 5.4% of the country's GDP, according to the report.

The country has also attracted international visitors by hosting major events, including Formula 1, as well as Eurovision and COP29 in previous years.

Asked to describe Azerbaijan in three words, Sengstschmid said: “real, warm and uplifting”.

For Sengstschmid, Azerbaijan “continues to reveal many new sights and this is what it still does to me, although living there for many, many years and calling it my home”.

By Sabina Mammadli