OMM Redaksiyası
Azerbaijan plans to expand air links to attract more tourists from Europe and strengthen its profile as an international travel destination. Direct flights between Brussels and Baku are scheduled to begin in May 2027.
Azerbaijan Airlines plans to operate four weekly flights between Brussels Airport and Baku. The direct route will cut travel time between the capitals to less than five hours and offer an alternative to connecting flights, which currently mostly travel via Istanbul.
Florian Sengstschmid, head of the Azerbaijan Tourism Board, said the new service could help attract more visitors from Europe and raise the country’s profile as a tourist destination.
Tourism currently generates about 3.5 billion euros ($4 billion) for Azerbaijan’s economy, equivalent to around 5.4% of gross domestic product.
Officials aim to increase the sector’s contribution to the economy to about 6 billion euros ($6.8 billion) by 2030 by boosting visitor numbers and tourism revenue. The strategy promotes destinations and experiences beyond Baku, including winter sports, wine tourism and cultural heritage sites.
International events also help raise Azerbaijan’s profile abroad. The latest Formula One race held in Baku attracted about 17,000 foreign visitors to the country.
Tourism officials expect direct flights to make travel from Europe to Azerbaijan easier and encourage visitors to stay longer and explore different regions.
Authorities are also considering air links with other European cities, including possible direct flights to Athens and Zurich. Officials hope that expanding the air network will support the tourism sector’s sustainable growth and make Azerbaijan more accessible to European visitors.
