Azernews.Az

By Laman Sadigova

AZAL, Azerbaijan's biggest airline and national flag carrier has made many passengers' dream a reality when it opened a new flight to the German capital, Berlin.

The Airbus-319 bearing a logo of the European Games "Baku-2015" carried out its first flight to Berlin main airport – Tegel on May 6. From now on the flight is to be implemented twice a week.

Numerous guests spent a lot of preparatory work to meet the flight's first passengers. Speaking at the welcoming ceremony in Tegel, Berlin’s airport, Hafiz Pashayev, the deputy foreign minister and rector of Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy, noted that the implementation of AZAL direct flights to one of the capitals of the world’s leading states is very important for creating new relations between the two.

Azerbaijani ambassador to Germany, Parviz Shahbazov noted on the importance of that day, saying that it is high time to implement direct flights between the two capitals.

The speakers stressed that the Azerbaijani-German relations are based on fruitful cooperation. They also noted that in Azerbaijan more than one hundred German companies operate in the sector of trade, construction, industrial, banking, insurance and agriculture.

A member of the Bundestag, the head of the Germany -South Caucasus parliamentary group Karin Shtrents, noted that the implementation of direct flights is important and fruitful.

Then, a symbolic ribbon was solemnly cut in the front of the aircraft.

Maharram Safarli, Spokesperson of AZAL said Berlin is a European metropolis with a high pace of life which blends both the past and present. With direct flights running in between Berlin and Baku, new business and tourist opportunities will open up.

He also expressed confidence that these flights will satisfy the needs of all -- tourists and businessmen.

"Our airline is committed to meet the needs of all categories of passengers. The opening of regular flights to Berlin is another clear evidence of AZAL’s sustainable development and expansion of its route network in Europe,” he said.

The flights en route Baku-Berlin-Baku will be carried twice a week on Wednesday and Saturday. The departure from Baku is at 07.25 local time. The plane lands in Berlin at 09.25 local time. The return flight from Berlin will take place on the same days at 10:45, landing in the capital of Azerbaijan at 18.40.

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