According to the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev dated May 18, 2006, June 2 is celebrated as a professional holiday of civil aviation workers. Although the first civilian air flight in our country was carried out in 1921 in a mail-passenger plane, a number of works in the field of aviation have been carried out since the founding of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in 1918. Passenger transportation was carried out for the first time in our civil aviation on August 8, 1923 by “Junkers” plane. The first airport was built and put into use in 1931 near Bina settlement. On this day in 1938, the first aviation group was created in Azerbaijan.
After the independence of Azerbaijan, the return to power of the world-famous politician Heydar Aliyev paved the way for great progress in all fields, including the field of national aviation. The measures taken, the agreements concluded with foreign airlines ensured the further development of Azerbaijani aviation. The rapid increase in the scale of the airlines facilitated Azerbaijan’s access to the world.
The rapid development of our civil aviation has brought its provision with highly qualified national personnel to the fore. The National Aviation Academy has an indispensable role in this work. This academy, which meets the personnel needs of modern independent Azerbaijan aviation at a high level, makes a valuable contribution to the training of the new generation of national aviators. Today, civil aviation, which is a part of the transport system of the Republic of Azerbaijan, plays an important role in meeting the population’s demand for air transport, developing all areas of the economy, and establishing economic, political, and cultural relations with foreign countries. Currently, the aircraft fleet of civil aviation includes “Boeing-757-200”, “Boeing-767-300 ЕР”, “Airbus-319”, “Airbus-320”, “Airbus-340-500” type airliners, “Super Puma”, ” Boeing-787-8 Dreamliner”, “Delfin” helicopters passenger planes were put to use by passengers. Three newest Airbus A320neo airliners were added this year.
In 2004, this airport entered our aviation history under the name of Heydar Aliyev International Airport. Heydar Aliyev International Airport was declared the best airport in the post-Soviet space, and was awarded the “Skytrax World Airport” awards, which are considered the most prestigious for the airport industry. “Skytrax” consulting company awarded Heydar Aliyev International Airport with the highest “5 stars”.
It should be noted that today international flights to various destinations are carried out not only from Baku, but also from Ganja, Lankaran, Gabala and Nakhchivan airports. The general route network of “Azerbaijan Airlines” consists of 40 destinations in 25 countries. AZAL, which has become a huge airline, is one of the leaders in terms of the number of new airliners both in the region and in the CIS.
Thanks to the heroism of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, after the liberation of the occupied lands of Azerbaijan from the enemy for 44 days, in January 2021, the President of Azerbaijan issued an order on the construction of an international airport in Fuzuli. The opening ceremony of Fizuli airport was held on October 26, 2021, and Zangilan International Airport was held on October 20, 2022. The head of state Mr. Ilham Aliyev and the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan participated in the official opening of both airports.
When we look at the history of our civil aviation on this holiday, we can never forget our heroic aviators. Teymur Mustafayev, the first aviator of Azerbaijan, Sonakhanim Nuriyeva, Zuleykha Seyidmammadova, a participant in the Great Patriotic War, Adil Guliyev, Hero of the Soviet Union, Arkady Romanov, Ivan Kucherev, Nureddin Aliyev, Ali Novruzov, Mark Zaika, Faig Mammadov, Nikolay Zdor, Jabbar Gafarov, Ali Huseynov, and the life path of other aviators is a true example to today’s younger generation. Even today, we commemorate these heroic aviators who kept the history of our civil aviation alive.
On June 2, 2023, on the occasion of the 85th anniversary of the professional holiday of the civil aviation workers of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the collective of management and trade union activists of “Azerbaijan Airlines” CJSC, after visiting the Heydar Aliyev monument complex in Fakhri Khiyaban, at the “FLY INN” hotel, solemnized the representatives of foreign airlines. , the opening ceremony will be held with the participation of official guests. On the occasion of the holiday, the Republican Committee of the Aviation Workers Trade Union considered presenting valuable gifts to many aviation workers who were honored in their work and social activities.
Once again, we heartily congratulate all aviation workers on the occasion of their 85th anniversary, wish them success in their work and clear skies.