The opening of a new terminal of the Heydar Aliyev International Airport was held on 23 April.

The opening ceremony was attended by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, his wife Mehriban Aliyeva and members of their family.

The airport’s passenger terminal was first built in Azerbaijan in 1933. The first two-storey terminal building was constructed and commissioned on the territory of the Baku airport in 1965. The design and construction of a new terminal building of the Baku airport started on the initiative of great leader Heydar Aliyev in 1980. However, the implementation of this project was made possible only after Azerbaijan restored its independence. The opening of an airport terminal meeting international standards was conducted in a ceremony attended by nationwide leader Heydar Aliyev in 1999. Runways and taxiways were reconstructed, air traffic control systems upgraded, radio navigation and meteorological equipment updated and a whole series of other measures taken at the Baku airport in a matter of a few years.

In parallel to this, the country’s civil aviation entered the stage of extensive development. The Nakhchivan international airport meeting international standards was commissioned in 2004. As part of the state program on the socioeconomic development of districts covering the 2006-2008 period, airports were commissioned one after another in Ganja, Zagatala and Lankaran. Later, airports were also built in Gabala and Yevlakh.

In addition to that, in an effort to bring passenger and cargo transportation into line with modern requirements, Azerbaijan has completely revamped its fleet of planes and helicopters. The aircraft fleet of the national flag carrier “Azerbaijan Airlines” (AZAL) CJSC has been supplemented with new modern liners purchased from the world’s leading manufacturers. Currently, AZAL operates flights to dozens of countries around the world.

The programs of rapid socioeconomic development undertaken under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, who has set the priority task of developing Azerbaijan to the level of the world’s most progressive countries, have played an important part in raising the level of civil aviation. One of the measures taken for the development of civil aviation in the country in recent years has been the construction of a new terminal building of the Heydar Aliyev International Airport.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the new terminal building was attended by President Ilham Aliyev on 17 March 2011. Its construction has just been completed. The building stands out for its grand appearance and functionality. The head of state repeatedly enquired about the progress of construction work and gave relevant instructions and recommendations.
President Ilham Aliyev cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the new terminal building of the Heydar Aliyev International Airport.

The president of the "Azerbaijan Airlines" CJSC, Jahangir Asgarov, informed the President about the work done.

It was noted that special attention was being paid to the modernization of the country's air transport. AZAL, which has become one of the world’s major airlines, is one of the leaders both in the region and the CIS for the number of new aircraft at its disposal. The commissioning of the new terminal building at the Heydar Aliyev International Airport further enhances the strategic importance of the airport.

President Ilham Aliyev addressed the ceremony with a speech.

The president of the "Azerbaijan Airlines" CJSC, Jahangir Asgarov, thanked President Ilham Aliyev for the attention being paid to the modernization of the country’s air transport.

Jahangir Asgarov presented the head of state and his wife with first token passenger tickets of the new airport terminal.

The ceremony was then addressed by the chief coordinator for construction of the terminal, Martin Burns, and the deputy director of the Azerbaijan State Civil Aviation Administration, Hajiaga Aliyev.
President Ilham Aliyev toured the terminal building.

Azerbaijan’s civil aviation is globally renowned as an elite and high-tech segment of transport. The favorable geographical location of the country further enhances the role and place of Azerbaijan in the global system of air transport. The quality performance of the orders and instructions of President Ilham Aliyev, who attaches tremendous importance to the modernization of the country's air transport, has facilitated the entry of the country’s aviation industry into a new stage in its development. It is thanks to the special attention and care of the head of state that Azerbaijan’s national aviation entered a new stage of development in 2003.

In recent years, the work on strengthening the material and technical infrastructure of existing airports and improving the activity of passenger terminals in line with modern requirements have been of consistent and systematic nature. One of the most significant results of the attention being paid by President Ilham Aliyev to the development of civil aviation in Azerbaijan has been the construction of the new terminal building at the Heydar Aliyev International Airport. The objective behind this project is to further improve the level of services associated with passenger transport and bring flight safety into line with international standards.

It was noted that the new airport terminal has the capacity to process 6,000,000 passengers a year. It covers an area of ​​65,000 square meters. The grand four-storey terminal building in the shape of aircraft wings stands out for an interesting architectural design. The first floor is intended for check-ins for departing flights and a baggage claim area for new arrivals. High-level service will be provided to "business class" passengers here. The second floor of the airport terminal is envisaged for arriving passengers. There are border checkpoints, visa kiosks, a service for control over the security of transit passengers, as well as a recreation lounge for arriving passengers here. The third floor, meant for departing passengers, will carry out customs and border control procedures, as well as passenger security checks based on advanced technologies. This floor also accommodates duty-free shops and various cafés. The fourth floor of the terminal building houses a bar and café for "business class" passengers and meeting rooms fitted with communication equipment. All floors are equipped with electronic boards.

The building of the new terminal is also equipped with modern escalators and elevators. It incorporates the latest technological advances used in international aviation. The new terminal building, which attracts attention with its modern appearance, will provide top-quality service to passengers. The application of cutting-edge equipment will also contribute to flight safety. The terminal building has the necessary facilities for the leisure of passengers as well. It has green areas with a special design. The building operates aerobridges capable of receiving 12 aircraft at a time. Two aerobridges are intended for accommodating the world's largest passenger aircraft - two-tier Airbus A380. Security measures are implemented in accordance with the latest standards.

It was indicated that the recruitment of technical personnel and professionals dealings with passenger transportation and flight safety at the terminal building was carried out through competition. All activities related to the recruitment and training of new personnel have already been completed. In general, the building of the new terminal at the Heydar Aliyev International Airport has the necessary infrastructure to accommodate aircraft and provide ground services.
It was also noted that as a result of an audit conducted by some international organizations in the sphere of aviation security in the country, Azerbaijan has received the "first class" status. At present, the Heydar Aliyev International Airport operates flights to 33 airports in 15 countries around the world. Work on the organization of direct long-haul flights, including those to the United States, is drawing to a close. Inside the country, regular flights are operated to Nakhchivan, Ganja and Gabala, and charter flights to Zagatala and Lankaran. In 2013, a total of 2,857,000 passengers were transported from the Heydar Aliyev International Airport to different destinations and back. These figures were obtained thanks to the upgrade of the country's air transport in recent years and the replenishment of the aircraft fleet with new modern airliners. The new airport also has a car park for 750 cars and driveways to it. The area around the airport has been extensively landscaped.

The head of state expressed his satisfaction with the work done and gave relevant instructions and recommendations.

In conclusion, a picture was taken as a souvenir.