Authorities plan to expand Baku Airport capacity to 20 million passengers

:: Baku Heydar Aliyev International airport

The capacity of the Baku airport, the capital of Azerbaijan, needs to be increased to 15–20 million passengers, said the country’s president, Ilham Aliyev. Speaking at a meeting with local journalists in early January, Aliyev revealed that authorities are already developing a concept for a new passenger terminal at the capital’s main air hub.

The president attributed the need for expansion to Azerbaijan’s growing air connectivity, driven by the arrival of foreign airlines, including low-cost carriers. He also outlined a broader national goal to double tourist inflows, targeting 5–6 million visitors annually.

While final Baku passenger figures for 2025 are not yet available, Aliyev noted that traffic has already surpassed 7 million. The milestone was reached in 2024, when the airport handled 7.537 million passengers.

However, growth moderated in the first half of 2025, with total passenger traffic increasing by just 1.9% year-on-year to 3.452 million.

CentralAsia+ Aero earlier reported: Security screening at Baku Airport becomes faster and more efficient with new technology.