Economic development prospects of the air transport sector of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the context of the Zangezur corridor: the role of the Fuzuli, Lachin, and Zangilan airports

Abstract

In the 21st century, the globalization of transport systems, expanding interregional integration, and the rising importance of transit infrastructure have created new economic spaces and intensified competition among logistics hubs. Within this context, the Zangezur Transport Corridor carries strategic value for Azerbaijan and the wider South Caucasus–Central Asia region, strengthening the country’s position along the East–West and North–South routes. The development of the corridor, together with the establishment of new airport and transport infrastructure in the liberated territories, marks a new stage in the evolution of Azerbaijan’s air transport sector. The commissioning of the Fuzuli, Zangilan, and Lachin international airports, along with the expanding activities of AZAL and Silk Way Airlines, has considerably increased national air logistics capacity. This paper analyzes the economic development prospects of Azerbaijan’s air transport sector within the Zangezur Corridor framework, treating the corridor as part of a multimodal transport system and assessing its geo-economic and macroeconomic effects.