AZERBAIJAN AIRLINES TO BECOME ARC-PARTICIPATING CARRIER


Arlington, VA, April 26, 2004 - Azerbaijan Airlines (771/J2) has joined ARC as a participating carrier effective with sales starting May 3, 2004, giving 25,000 ARC-accredited travel agency and corporate travel department locations the ability to settle Azerbaijan Airlines transactions through ARC's trusted settlement system.

Azerbaijan Airlines is the national carrier of Azerbaijan Republic.  From its hub in Baku, Azerbaijan Republic, the carrier serves the international destinations of London (LGW), Paris (CDG), Istanbul, Ankara, Trabzon, Moscow, Kiev, Tbilisi, Tel-Aviv, Dubai, Tehran, and Urumqi, and it is the only European carrier to operate regularly scheduled passenger flights to Kabul, Afghanistan.  The carrier also serves several other regional and domestic airports.  Azerbaijan Airlines' inventory is available to Amadeus, Sabre, and Galileo users through access agreements between those companies and the Gabriel-2 GDS.  The carrier operates a fleet of Boeing 757-200, Boeing 727-200 and TU-154M aircraft.

As Azerbaijan Airlines has elected the General Concurrence method of agent appointment, all ARC-accredited agencies are automatically appointed as agents of the carrier.  At this time, the carrier accepts cash as the only form of payment.

For inquiries, reservations, or sales information, contact the following:

Azerbaijan Airlines International Commercial Department 66/68, The 28th of May Street Baku, AZ 1010, Azerbaijan Republic Phone: (994 12) 985424; 985450 Fax: (994-12) 985424; 931253 E-Mail: mailto:opr@azal.baku.az US Sales Office: (718) 275-8434