Azerbaijan's AZAL Connects Capitals with Inaugural Baku-Beijing Flight

In a milestone moment for Azerbaijan's national air carrier, AZAL, the inaugural direct flight from Baku to Beijing was successfully completed on December 19. The journey commenced at 19:40 Baku time and concluded in Beijing at 06:50 local time on December 20.

A grand ceremony, attended by representatives of AZAL,  guests, and diplomats from Azerbaijan and China, including Ambassador Bunyad Huseynov, underscored the importance of this flight in fostering economic, political, cultural, and tourist ties between the two countries.

Operated twice a week, on Tuesdays and Sundays, the Baku-Beijing-Baku route aims to meet the escalating demand for travel and fortify the dynamic relationship between Azerbaijan and China. Tickets for these flights are available through various channels, including ticket offices, accredited agencies, and the official AZAL website (www.azal.az), along with the convenience of the AZAL mobile app.

Travelers are reminded of the mandatory health questionnaire required for travel to China by plane. The completion of this questionnaire generates a QR code, essential for boarding in both Baku and Beijing.

In a strategic move for tourism collaboration, AZAL, the Azerbaijan Tourism Bureau under the State Tourism Agency, and China Tourism Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Beijing on November 15. The partnership is poised to boost tourism and enhance the flow of visitors between Azerbaijan and China. AZAL, recognized as a rapidly expanding global airline with a modern fleet, is set to broaden its business footprint in China.

During the signing ceremony, Nazim Samedov, First Deputy Executive Director of AZAL, expressed confidence in the initiative's positive impact on tourism development. Florian Zengstschmid, General Executive Director of the Azerbaijan Tourism Bureau, highlighted China's vast potential in outbound tourism, foreseeing an increase in Chinese visitors to Azerbaijan. Zengstschmid noted a substantial surge in Chinese travelers, reaching 20,469 from January to October 2023, a seven-fold increase compared to the same period last year.

Previously, passenger transportation between China and Azerbaijan was exclusively facilitated by China Southern Airlines, flying the Baku-Urumqi-Guangzhou route twice a week. Despite a three-year suspension due to the pandemic, the flight resumed on March 13 this year, further exemplifying the resilience and adaptability of air travel in these unprecedented times.--0--