Turkish leader highlights infrastructure progress in Azerbaijan’s Karabakh

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced that he visited Azerbaijan’s Lachin district on May 28 for the inauguration of Lachin Airport, highlighting significant progress in Karabakh rebuilding efforts, especially in infrastructure development. 

Speaking after a government meeting, Erdogan noted that the region is undergoing a transformation, with large-scale projects aimed at revitalising the area and improving the quality of life for its residents, Caliber.Az reports via local media. 

President Erdogan reiterated Türkiye's unwavering support for these initiatives, stating, “We are providing all possible assistance in this work.”

The airport, officially inaugurated on May 28 by President Erdoğan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, is the third airport built in Azerbaijani territories liberated from illegal Armenian occupation during the 2020 war. 

The ceremony coincided with Azerbaijan’s Independence Day and marked another milestone in Baku’s post-conflict reconstruction efforts. Construction of Lachin International Airport began in 2021, with engineers facing significant technical challenges due to the mountainous terrain. Located at an altitude of 1,800 meters, it is now Azerbaijan’s highest-altitude airport. The project required large-scale excavation and extensive land-levelling work to adapt the rugged landscape for aviation infrastructure. 

Strategically positioned, the airport lies 30 kilometres from Lachin city, 70 kilometres from Shusha, and 60 kilometres from Kalbajar. It features a 3,000-meter-long and 60-meter-wide runway, and a passenger terminal capable of serving up to 200 people per hour. On May 26, just days before the inauguration, Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov signed a decree officially granting Lachin airport international status. Notifications were immediately dispatched to international aviation authorities, raising the number of Azerbaijan’s international airports to nine. 

The airport is expected to significantly boost tourism, trade, and regional connectivity, while reinforcing Azerbaijan’s efforts to revitalise areas previously under Armenian control. Lachin is the third airport inaugurated in the liberated territories since 2021. Presidents Erdoğan and Aliyev previously opened Fuzuli International Airport in October 2021 and Zangilan International Airport in October 2022.

By Naila Huseynova