Tabriz-Baku flights resume, boosting ‘trade and economic diplomacy’
Flights between Tabriz and Baku, and vice versa, resumed on Tuesday following a several-year interruption, with “the development of trade, tourism, and economic diplomacy” cited as key objectives for reinstating the route.
The resumption follows President Masoud Pezeshkian's official visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan in April and recent diplomatic efforts by the governor general of East Azarbaijan Province.
At the inaugural ceremony for the Baku route held at Tabriz Shahid Madani International Airport, Governor General of East Azarbaijan Bahram Sarmast said that advancing trade, tourism, and economic diplomacy are primary goals of reestablishing the air link, IRNA reported.
Provincial officials attended the ceremony, presenting flowers to passengers aboard the first flight.
Sarmast emphasized the flight's restoration stems from Pezeshkian's diplomatic engagement and underscores East Azarbaijan's strategic importance in relations with Baku.
He noted that the resumption of Tabriz-Baku flights is happening after an interruption of several years, explaining that establishing these flights is one of the outcomes of the president's visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan and signifies the importance and position of the northwestern province in relations with Baku.
Expressing hope for an increase in flights on this route, the governor general of East Azarbaijan stated, "The province has been one of the country's important industrial and commercial hubs, and the long-standing history of the Chamber of Commerce in Tabriz, the existence of 70 industrial towns and zones, and 4,800 industrial and production units signify the province's substantial share in the national economy."
"East Azarbaijan, due to its location at the crossroads of northwestern provinces and its capabilities in tourism, health tourism, non-oil exports, technical and engineering services, and agricultural and horticultural products, holds a central position in economic relations and exchanges with the Republic of Azerbaijan," Sarmast said.
He said that developing transportation and transit, completing important road projects and border bridges with the Republic of Azerbaijan, visa cancellation, and developing air transport cooperation are among this province's strategies for connecting with Baku.
The Director General of East Azerbaijan Airports, Ramin Azari, also stated at the ceremony that currently, 18 flight routes are active at Tabriz airport. He added, "direct and scheduled flights are also established from this airport with four foreign countries."