The full-scale war in Ukraine and rising hostilities in the Middle East have forced airlines to abandon traditional flight routes, resulting in longer journeys, higher operational costs, and increased carbon emissions.
In this environment of uncertainty, the search for stable, efficient, and politically neutral transit alternatives has become an urgent priority for global carriers. Against this backdrop, Azerbaijan has rapidly emerged as a critical aviation link between Asia and Europe. Positioned at the heart of the Eurasian landmass, the country offers not only geographic advantage but also modern infrastructure, diplomatic neutrality, and a clear vision for sustainable and multimodal connectivity. As traditional air corridors unravel, Azerbaijan is positioning itself not as a temporary substitute but as a long-term, strategic hub shaping the future of Eurasian aviation.
The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 fundamentally altered global aviation patterns. Western airlines, banned from Russian airspace, were compelled to adopt significantly longer routes between Europe or North America and East Asia. This rerouting has had substantial environmental and economic consequences.
Research indicates that these detours led to planes using an average of 13% more fuel compared to their original routes, with flights specifically between Europe and Asia experiencing an even greater increase of 14.8% in fuel consumption. This operational adjustment contributed to a 1% increase in global aviation carbon dioxide emissions in 2023, adding an estimated 8.2 million tonnes of CO2 to the atmosphere. Approximately 1,100 flights per day were affected by these airspace restrictions, underscoring a systemic disruption rather than isolated incidents.
Layered onto the disruptions caused by the Ukraine war, the escalating tensions and direct missile exchanges between Israel and Iran have led to immediate and widespread airspace closures across the Middle East, including over Iran, Iraq, Jordan, and Israel. This has resulted in major disruptions, forcing international airlines to cancel or reroute hundreds of flights. Over 500 flights were cancelled or delayed across major Middle Eastern airports due to these restrictions. Major carriers such as Air India, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Lufthansa, FlyDubai, Etihad, and El Al were significantly affected, with many flights rerouted or even returned to their origin points. This situation, combined with the Ukraine war, effectively closes or severely restricts a second critical East-West corridor, dramatically reducing available safe airspace and forcing airlines into increasingly constrained and circuitous routes.
The immediate diversion of numerous international flights to Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD) in Baku during the Middle East airspace restrictions demonstrates Azerbaijan’s role as a reliable haven. Baku Airport explicitly stated its capacity to “safely reroute regional and global air traffic under any emergency circumstances,” possessing “all the necessary infrastructure and operational resources.” This spontaneous rerouting signifies a high level of trust in Azerbaijan’s air traffic control, ground services, and its perceived geopolitical neutrality. It elevates Azerbaijan from a theoretical alternative to a proven, real-time crisis response hub, showcasing its immediate utility and strategic value in volatile times.
Azerbaijan’s emergence as a pivotal East-West air connector is not merely a reactive response to current crises but is rooted in its unique geographical advantages, rich historical legacy, and a carefully cultivated foreign policy. Strategically located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, bridging the Caspian Sea and the South Caucasus, Azerbaijan naturally positions itself as a critical transit point for goods and people moving between the two continents.
At the heart of this positioning is the “Middle Corridor,” also known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, which stretches across Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, and the South Caucasus into Europe. Azerbaijan forms its crucial central link. The nation’s strength as an air hub is not isolated but is part of a broader, integrated national strategy to become a comprehensive multimodal logistics center, offering seamless transfers between air, rail, road, and sea networks.
Since regaining independence in 1991, Azerbaijan has diligently pursued a foreign policy centered on connectivity and cooperation, consistently emphasizing regional stability. Its commitment to neutrality is a cornerstone of its appeal as a safe transit corridor. Amidst escalating Israeli-Iranian confrontation, Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov explicitly stated that “Azerbaijan will never allow its territory to be used for attacks against friendly states, including Iran.” This declaration of neutrality, coupled with its active participation in organizations like the UN, OSCE, and the Organization of Turkic States, reinforces its commitment to regional stability and cooperation. This proactive approach and sustained commitment to infrastructure development, rather than merely reacting to crises, instill greater confidence in its reliability as a hub.
Azerbaijan’s commitment to becoming a leading aviation hub is visibly supported by substantial investments in modern infrastructure and advanced operational capabilities. Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD) in Baku has undergone significant modernization and achieved remarkable growth, solidifying its position as the region’s leading aviation hub. In 2024, the airport served 7.5 million passengers, marking a substantial 31% increase compared to 2023. Transit travel, a key indicator of its hub status, saw exceptional growth, with the number of transit passengers rising by an impressive 130% to 373,383. The airport handled 59,238 flights and expanded its route network to 80 destinations, served by 40 airlines. This growth and operational excellence have garnered significant international recognition, with GYD named the “Best Airport in Central Asia and the CIS” by the prestigious Skytrax World Airport Awards.
Furthermore, the new Alat Cargo Airport, located within the Alat Free Economic Zone (AFEZ), is designed to become a critical multimodal logistics hub, further strengthening Azerbaijan’s position as a key transit point between Europe and Asia. Equipped with state-of-the-art air navigation systems by Indra, it will enhance operational efficiency and ensure flight safety for round-the-clock cargo operations. This airport is strategically located adjacent to the Port of Baku and directly linked to Azerbaijan’s railway and highway networks, facilitating seamless cargo movement across sea, land, and air.
Beyond Baku, Azerbaijan’s commitment to modernizing its air traffic control (ATC) systems and expanding its airport network extends to other regions. Fuzuli International Airport, for instance, built within an impressive eight months, was inaugurated in 2021, serving as Karabakh’s gateway to the world. It features a 3,000m runway, instrumental landing and navigation systems, and an ATC tower equipped with an automated PHOENIX tower system, all complying with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regulations. Azeraeronavigation (AZANS) serves as the national air navigation service provider, ensuring safe and efficient air traffic services across the country’s airspace.
Azerbaijan’s emergence as a key air transit hub is intrinsically linked to its broader national economic strategy, with aviation serving as a critical catalyst for diversification and sustainable growth. The Azerbaijani government’s strategic focus on air transport reflects its broader goal to diversify the economy beyond its traditional reliance on oil and gas. A State Program is in place to enhance the efficiency of logistics processes, making air transport more accessible and reliable for businesses, aiming to attract crucial foreign investments.
Furthermore, expanding air transport capabilities is expected to bolster tourism significantly. Azerbaijan was indeed the fastest-growing tourism destination among the 30 largest European destinations, recording a 26% increase in air bookings between May 2023 and April 2024 and May 2024 and April 2025. This growing passenger demand complements transit traffic, strengthening the overall viability and profitability of aviation operations.
Azerbaijan has also made sustainability and the transition to a green economy central to its long-term national development strategy. In alignment with this vision, Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) has announced a major initiative to explore the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) as part of its commitment to reducing carbon emissions and advancing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards. AZAL is actively engaging with financial institutions to attract green investment and is developing a comprehensive ESG strategy. It has also joined the International Air Transport Association (IATA)’s CO₂ Connect program, further reinforcing its environmental leadership.
Moreover, AZAL has unveiled ambitious plans to modernize its fleet and enhance operational efficiency, with new Airbus and Boeing aircraft expected by 2032. The airline plans to streamline its fleet by 2030 to include only two models: the narrow-body Airbus A320 Neo family and the wide-body Boeing 787 Dreamliner. This strategic investment in a modern, fuel-efficient fleet will further enhance Azerbaijan’s appeal as a transit hub, offering airlines and passengers access to contemporary and reliable air transport services.
As global aviation navigates a new era of uncertainty and fragmentation, Azerbaijan has emerged not as a peripheral alternative but as a central pillar in reconfiguring East-West air connectivity. Its unique geographical position, coupled with a long-term strategy rooted in neutrality, infrastructure investment, and sustainable development, has elevated the country into a key node in global air transit. The convergence of geopolitical crises—from the war in Ukraine to instability in the Middle East—has underscored the urgency of identifying stable, efficient, and geopolitically neutral corridors.
Azerbaijan’s swift, coordinated response to these challenges, demonstrated through both policy and performance, reveals its growing capacity to anchor regional and intercontinental aviation flows. With state-of-the-art infrastructure, a rapidly expanding airport network, strategic policy vision, and a commitment to green transformation, Azerbaijan is not merely adapting to shifting global dynamics; it is actively shaping them. In an increasingly turbulent world, Azerbaijan’s air corridors are poised to become enduring lifelines for global connectivity.
Vusal Guliyev is a Sinologist and Policy Analyst specializing in the geopolitical affairs of Eurasia and the Asia-Pacific region. He currently works as a Policy Advisor at the Baku-based Center of Analysis of International Relations and also serves as the Head of the Shanghai Office at AZEGLOB Consulting Group.
