AZAL Resumes Regular Flights to Jeddah: Tickets on Sale from September 15

Photo: UzeyirMikayil / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) will resume regular flights on the Baku–Jeddah–Baku route starting September 15, 2026. The national carrier’s aircraft will serve the Saudi city four times a week — on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays — Report.az reported, citing the airline.

Jeddah is Saudi Arabia’s second-largest city and a major economic, trade and transport hub on the Red Sea coast. For millions of pilgrims worldwide, the city is the gateway to Mecca and Medina: most travellers heading to the lesser pilgrimage, Umrah, and the greater pilgrimage, Hajj, pass through Jeddah.

AZAL attributes the decision to growing demand for travel between the two countries and a wish to make air connections more convenient for passengers. Tickets can be purchased on the airline’s official website, its mobile app, AZAL ticket offices, and accredited travel agencies.

What this means for travellers

A direct flight to Jeddah is of interest not only to pilgrims but also to business travellers and anyone transiting to other Saudi cities — Jeddah’s airport is one of the region’s largest hubs, with connections across the Middle East, Asia and Africa. The route also works both ways: Jeddah traditionally draws many visitors from the Gulf states and Southeast Asia, for whom a direct flight makes Baku a more accessible transit and tourism destination. Anyone planning Hajj or Umrah via Baku should remember that a Saudi visa and pilgrimage permits are separate, advance procedures — a plane ticket does not replace the required permits. Four flights a week is not a daily service, so it’s worth booking dates early, especially during peak pilgrimage months. It is also worth accounting for the time difference (Jeddah is one hour behind Baku) and the fact that connecting through the Saudi hub to other cities in the region often requires a separate transit or entry visa for a third country.