Another carrier discontinues flights to Azerbaijan (210 words)

Published: 9/4/2001

Jean Claude Donzel, Swissair spokesman, has said that, at the end of October, the carrier will close both its route to Azerbaijan and its office in Baku. Local newspaper, Echo, describes the closure of the route as "unfortunate", since the airline's flights from Zurich to Baku were popular among Azerbaijan travelers. They had offered comparatively low airfares, following the departure of a number of foreigner carriers from Azerbaijan over the last couple of years, including KLM and Emirates Airlines, after disputes over the cost of operating out of Baku, with the state concern, AZAL, a negative impact on the route's profitability for other carriers. Echo suspects this latest announcement could lead to increases in airfares to and from Baku by the four airlines currently making international flights: namely, AZAL, Lufthansa, British Mediterranean, and Turk Hava Yollary. Donzel cited the lack of profitability for Swissair as the primary reason for the route's closure, although the experience of British Mediterranean on the route appears to contradict this. Since inheriting the London-Baku route from British Airways last year, the airline has recently announced an increase of frequencies from six to seven times a week from London Heathrow with effect from 29th October.

Article ID: 2733