The Zangilan international airport is being constructed in the Zangilan district, part of the East Zangazur economic region of Azerbaijan.
It is the second airport in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan after the Fuzuli international airport. The territories were previously under the occupation of Armenia and reclaimed later after Azerbaijan won the war in 2020.
Recommended White Papers
The Zangilan district was selected for the airport construction based on its geographical location and vicinity to international markets. The new airport is expected 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 project is part of the transportation infrastructure of the Zangazur corridor that is expected to provide 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.
The government is also building the Lachin International Airport, which is the third in the liberated regions.
Construction of the Zangilan airport began in May 2021 and is expected to be completed in 2022.
Zangilan international airport details
The terminal building of the Zangilan airport is being built as per international standards. The terminal, which will have the capacity to handle 200 people an hour, will feature office rooms, VIP halls, cafes, and medical facilities. The airport is designed to accommodate different aircraft types including heavy cargo planes.
It will have a 3,000m-long and 60m-wide runway, 47,500m2 (511,285ft2) of apron area, and 11,340m2 (122,062ft2) of taxiways area.
Construction details
Construction of the airport involves 2.05 million m³ of earthworks, 85,600m3 of capping layer, 54,400m3 of base course, and 190,000t of asphalt-concrete mixture.
Earthworks on the apron were completed as of May 2022 while asphalt-concrete work on the runway is progressing.
Construction of the air traffic control tower is expected to be completed in July 2022, followed by completion of the terminal building by the end of August.
Equipment and materials for the terminal building were imported from Italy, Germany, and Turkey.
Air traffic control at Zangilan international airport
The airport will be equipped with the Phoenix automated air traffic control (ATC) system, developed by DFS Aviation Services (DAS), an air navigation services provider based in Germany.
The Phoenix hardware and software system is being implemented at the airport by DAS and 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 the 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, ATC, radar, and navigation systems, as well as to broadcast aviation meteorological information.
Contractors involved
Azvirt, a construction company based in Azerbaijan, was contracted for the construction of the Zangilan airport. The company also constructed the Fuzuli international airport and is constructing the Lachin international airport.
DFS Aviation Services (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.
