Azerbaijan will soon restore direct flights to Russia after suspending services following the deadly downing of an Azerbaijani passenger plane in late 2024. The announcement signals improving relations between the neighboring countries after months of diplomatic discussions.
Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov confirmed the decision during talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday. However, he did not announce an exact date for the resumption of flights.
Azerbaijan Airlines suspended routes from Baku to 10 Russian cities after a Russian surface-to-air missile struck an Embraer E190 on December 25, 2024. The aircraft was flying from Baku to Grozny, the capital of Chechnya.
After the missile strike, the damaged aircraft attempted to divert to another airport. However, it crashed in western Kazakhstan, killing 38 of the 67 people on board.
Meanwhile, the tragedy triggered a diplomatic dispute between Moscow and Baku. However, both governments reached a settlement in April after lengthy negotiations. Russia formally acknowledged the involvement of its air defense system and agreed to compensate the victims’ families.
During Friday’s meeting, Bayramov said direct flights on several routes would restart soon. He added that both countries were preparing to restore normal air connections.
Furthermore, Russia’s state-run TASS news agency quoted Bayramov as saying the routes would reopen in the near future. Nevertheless, officials have not confirmed a specific launch schedule.
Lavrov also welcomed the progress and said both governments had resolved every outstanding issue linked to the disaster. Therefore, the agreement cleared the way for stronger bilateral cooperation.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry said renewed transport links would strengthen regional economic resilience and support broader development. Moreover, both ministers highlighted expanding commercial relations between their countries.
Bilateral trade between Russia and Azerbaijan reached $4.9 billion during 2025. Consequently, both governments expect restored flights to support tourism, business travel, investment, and future economic cooperation.
