DALLAS — AZAL Azerbaijan Airlines (J2) has stepped forward to renew and expand its medium-haul aircraft fleet by incorporating more Airbus A320neo aircraft from the lessor CDB Aviation.

The contract, signed on June 17, is the first commercial agreement between the two companies. It will consist of the dry leasing of two NEO units that will arrive between June and July 2025. As of June 2024, J2 already operates three airframes of these latest-generation planes.

Samir Rzayev, President of AZAL, said, “The signing of these two leases marks the start of our fleet replacement to the most modern aircraft and interiors. Our passengers will be delighted with what can be achieved in the NEO cabin, with their increased comfort and enjoyment.

Still Covering Market Gaps with Wet-Leased A320ceos

While new A320neo units are pending arrival in the fleet, J2 is still forced to rely on wet-leased Airbus A320ceos to cover a rising demand for flights to and from Baku (GYD), their home base.

An apparent factor boosting traffic through Azerbaijan is the sanctions imposed on Russia by the European Union regarding commercial flights. Along with airlines like Turkish Airlines (TK), J2 now works as a crucial bridge between Russia and the EU for passengers who still need to get in and out of Moscow in 2024.

Until today, J2 has signed wet-lease agreements with GetJet (GW) and Heston (HN) to balance capacity with passenger demand during the last few months, translated into seven rented aircraft.