Azerbaijan Airlines to set up LCC subsidiary

AZAL said it had trialed low-cost services on some of its routes from August 2015 and decided to set up a distinct low-cost brand, with services due to start March 28.

AZALJET will charge for baggage and onboard meals, while the parent airline will continue to operate as a full-service airline.

Earlier this month, AZAL said negotiations were underway with aviation authorities of Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Israel and other nations over the launch of new services.

LCC Air Arabia is understood to be due to launch services from its Sharjah hub to the Azeri capital Baku, while El Al and Arkia plan to start Tel Aviv-Baku flights this year, AZAL said. Turkish carriers Pegasus and Atlasjet are also in talks about starting services to several Azeri regional airports, it added.

AZAL operates a mixed fleet of Airbus, Boeing and Embraer types. No details were given of which aircraft would transferred to the new LCC brand, nor which routes would be served.

Calls to AZAL in Baku went unanswered.