Iran becomes more accessible for Kazakh travelers with new Baku stopover

Starting Sept. 1, Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) will launch direct flights from Baku to two Iranian cities, Tehran and Tabriz, making travel to Iran more affordable and convenient for passengers from Kazakhstan.

AZAL will operate flights from Baku to Tehran four times a week, on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. One-way tickets will start at about $58, with a flight time of 1 hour and 25 minutes.

From Sept. 3, the carrier will begin twice-weekly flights from Baku to Tabriz, on Wednesdays and Sundays. One-way fares will start at $110, with a flight time of 1 hour and 15 minutes.

These routes will cut both the time and cost for travelers from Almaty, Astana and Aktau heading to Tehran or Tabriz.

Almaty-Tehran
Currently, the only way to fly from Almaty to Tehran is with a transfer in Muscat or Dubai. Tickets range from $290 to $440, and travel time, excluding layovers, is 1.5 to 2.5 hours longer than direct flights.

With the new Baku connection (Almaty-Baku-Tehran), tickets will start at $200. The journey will take about 5 hours and 15 minutes, cutting costs by up to 50%.

Almaty-Tabriz
Now, the route from Almaty to Tabriz goes through Istanbul, taking about nine hours. Fares start at $1,050.

Via Baku, the trip will take about five hours, with ticket prices starting at $260, four times cheaper than current options.

Astana-Tehran
From Astana, current flights to Tehran via Istanbul cost from $335 and take about nine hours.

Through Baku, fares will start at $195, and total travel time will drop to about 4 hours and 40 minutes, saving passengers up to $140 and more than four hours.

Astana-Tabriz
The Astana-Tabriz route currently requires a nine-hour journey through Istanbul, with fares starting at $370.

With the Baku connection, fares will start at $245 and travel time will fall to 4.5 hours, saving $125 and 4.5 hours.

Aktau-Tehran
The trip from Aktau to Tehran takes about 6.5 hours and costs from $220.

Via Baku, passengers will reach Tehran in 2.5 hours, with fares starting at $120, nearly twice as fast and almost half the cost.

Aktau-Tabriz
Currently, flights from Aktau to Tabriz require a connection in Istanbul, taking nearly six hours, with fares starting at $285.

After the launch of AZAL’s Tabriz service, passengers will be able to fly for about $175 in just 2 hours and 20 minutes, saving around $110 and cutting the trip by more than half.