AZAL Azerbaijan Airlines (J2, Baku Heydar Aliev International) says its recently unveiled AZALJET (Baku Heydar Aliev International) budget operation will make its full commercial debut on March 28, 2016. The Azerbaijani carrier says it has been trialling the product since August of last year with baggage and on-board meals being offered as a separate cost on select AZAL flights.
AZAL president, Jahangir Asgarov, says AZALJET will allow the airline to better compete with foreign rivals - both full-service airlines and LCCs - that have expressed an interest in serving the Central Asian republic.
AZALJET's sphere of operations will reportedly encompass existing AZAL destinations that are within a 3.5hour flying time (excluding Tel Aviv Ben Gurion).
It is currently uncertain whether AZALJET will indeed operate as a distinct entity with its own AOC or will remain a simple commercial brand in use with AZAL.
