Azerbaijan Airlines and their inaugural flight to London Gatwick
Gatwick Airport was buzzing with activity early on Sunday 17 March, when Azerbaijan’s national air carrier Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) realised its first flights from Baku to their second London airport, Gatwick, writes Venetia van Kuffeler.
Azerbaijan Airlines’ first flight into London Gatwick Airport was greeted by a welcoming party, featuring Ambassador of Azerbaijan to the UK, His Excellency Elin Suleymanov, the Vice President of Aviation Development at Gatwick Airport, Stephanie Wear, AZAL’s Regional Head of Europe Kamran Gajar, as well as airline staff and officials from both countries.
Flight J2 107 left Baku at 07:25 local time on 17 March 2024, and arrived at London Gatwick at 09:25. Then flight J2 108 departed London Gatwick at 10:40, arriving in Baku at 20:10 local time on the same date. When leaving London Gatwick, the aircraft was over 95 per cent full, and passengers included well-known and popular Azerbaijani musician, Chingiz Mustafayev and his entourage, which caused great excitement. Ambassador Elin Suleymanov and AZAL Regional Manager for Europe Kamran Gajar compared notes (and photographs) of the AZAL launch at JFK in New York a decade earlier when Mr Suleymanov was Ambassador in Washington DC.
AZAL flights from Baku to London Gatwick Airport will be operated three times a week, on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The duration of the flight is six hours from Baku to London, and five and a half hours from London to Baku, and offers both economy and business class seats.
AZAL has become the latest airline to turn its attention to the Gatwick market. This decision was taken to address rising demand and is part of the airline’s strategy to expand its flight network. In late 2023, a new service between Baku and Doha, Qatar, was established, as was a service to Beijing, China. Gajar noted, “As part of the airline’s strategy to expand its network, we are delighted with the launch of AZAL’s flights between the expanding hub of Baku and London Gatwick.”
While AZAL also continues the operation of Baku – Heathrow flights on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, the airline will now offer altogether six direct flights between Baku and London a week.
This increase in the number of flights is in line with Azerbaijan’s ever-increasing deep ties with the United Kingdom, where there is major cooperation in the transition to green energy between both countries. “Three Gatwick morning and three Heathrow evening flights will not only extend the air bridge between the UK and Azerbaijan, it will also expand the bridges of partnership, cooperation and friendship between our countries. It is a clear demonstration of Azerbaijan’s commitment to the UK as a business hub, as well as expanding Azerbaijan’s reach into wider Europe. We also continue to link our capital, Baku, to the rest of the world ahead COP29,” Ambassador Suleymanov commented.
As well as being Azerbaijan’s capital, rapidly modernising Baku is the largest city on the Caspian Sea and in the Caucasus region. Baku has recently become a venue for major international events, hosting the Eurovision Song Contest in 2012, the 2015 European Games, plus the Azerbaijan Grand Prix since 2017, and was one of the host cities for UEFA Euro 2020. Baku is now gearing up to host COP29 in November this year as part of Azerbaijan’s commitment to contribute to global efforts in tackling climate change.
Azerbaijan Airlines, also known as AZAL, is the flag carrier in Azerbaijan. Based in Baku, adjacent to Heydar Aliyev International Airport, the carrier operates to destinations across the globe. AZAL was officially established on 7 April 1992, and today is one of the leading aviation companies in the CIS countries with the most modern aircraft fleet, offering over 50 flight destinations worldwide.
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