The Zangilan International Airport is located in the Zangilan district, part of the East Zangazur economic region of Azerbaijan.
Construction of the Zangilan airport began in May 2021 and was completed in October 2022.
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The new airport was built to serve as an international transport hub in the future. The Azerbaijan government intends to use the airport to address its transport and security requirements.
The government is also building the Lachin International Airport in the Lachin district, which will be the third airport in the liberated regions and is expected to open in 2024.
Zangilan Airport location and development background
The Zangilan district was selected for the airport construction based on its geographical location and vicinity to international markets.
The project is part of the transportation infrastructure of the Zangazur corridor that provides connectivity between the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and the mainland of Azerbaijan.
The infrastructure of the corridor also includes railroads and motor roads through the Zangilan district.
Zangilan is the second airport to be built in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan after Fuzuli International Airport. The territories were previously under the occupation of Armenia and reclaimed after Azerbaijan won the war in 2020.
Zangilan International Airport details
The terminal building of Zangilan airport is built to international standards. The terminal has the capacity to handle 200 people an hour and features office rooms, VIP halls, cafes and medical facilities.
The airport is designed to accommodate different aircraft types including heavy cargo planes. It has a 3,000m-long and 60m-wide runway, 60,000m (645,834ft² of apron area and 23,000m² of taxiways.
The airport also includes auxiliary buildings, transformers, boiler houses, water tanks and a a 10km-long 35kV electric cable line.
Construction details
Construction of the airport involved 2.05 million m³ of earthworks, 96,800m³ of capping layer, 63,700m³ of base course, and 208,000t of asphalt-concrete mixture.
Earthworks on the apron were completed in May 2022.
Equipment and materials for the terminal building were imported from Italy, Germany, and Turkey.
Air traffic control at Zangilan International Airport
The airport is equipped with the Phoenix automated air traffic control system, developed by DFS Aviation Services (DAS), an air navigation services provider based in Germany.
The Phoenix hardware and software system is implemented at the airport by DAS and the Azereronavigation Air Traffic Department (AZANS) of Azerbaijan to enhance flight safety and airspace capacity. It was successfully tested in April 2022. The installation is part of the project to upgrade air navigation services over the liberated territories.
The Phoenix automated system was also introduced at Fuzuli International Airport in August 2021.
AZANS acquired international codes and frequencies for the technical equipment required for air navigation services at the Zangilan airport. The codes and frequencies are essential for communication systems, air traffic control, radar and navigation systems, as well as to broadcast aviation meteorological information.
The airport is also equipped with instrument landing systems, aircraft navigation systems, aviation and meteorological surveillance systems and primary and secondary radar systems.
Contractors involved
Azvirt, a construction company based in Azerbaijan, was contracted for the construction of the Zangilan airport. The company also constructed Fuzuli International Airport and is constructing Lachin International Airport.
DAS provided the Phoenix tower system for air navigation at the Zangilan airport under a contract with AZANS. The contractual scope also included providing training to AZANS’ technical and operational staff to handle the system.
