AZAL Azerbaijan Airlines (J2, Baku Heydar Aliev International) is proceeding with longstanding plans to renew and expand its mainline passenger fleet following talks with Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) and Boeing (BOE, Washington National) in Baku this past week.

According to the ch-aviation fleets module, AZAL operates three A319-100s (average age of 15.9 years), six A320-200s (average age of 15.2 years), two A340-500s (average age of 13.6 years), three B757-200s (average age of 23.4 years), three B767-300ERs (average age of 10.4 years), two B787-8s (average age of 6.9 years), and eight E190ARs (in service with AZAL's Buta Airways budget division; average age of 8.5 years). All aircraft are understood to be owned by the airline itself.

Concerning Airbus, AZAL said a preliminary agreement was reached wherein the Europeans may supply the state-owned airline with up to twenty A320neo and A321neo through 2030 to replace its current A319 and A320ceo.

Concerning Boeing, a preliminary agreement was reached for the purchase of nine B787s through 2030 for use in replacing its B757s, B767s, and A340s. No mention was made, however, about the status of AZAL's B737 MAX plans which were last said to have been deferred from 2019 to 2024.

Both Airbus and Boeing must now draw up proposals for AZAL's supervisory board as well as its parent firm, the Azerbaijan Investment Holding (AIH), for consideration.