Azerbaijan, Baku / corr Trend U.Ismayilova / The decision by the Tariff Council of Azerbaijan for the increase in the cost of the tickets of the internal air flights is quite right, in consideration with the expenses of the AZAL State Air Company, MP Ali Masimov, a member of the permanent parliamentary commission on the economic issues of the Azerbaijani Parliament, stated on 26 December.
"Any company should set up the prices in accordance with the market economy prices, so as to avoid any bankruptcy," Masimov stated.
After the decision of the Tariff Council of Azerbaijan, the prices for the internal flights will be changed from 1 January. The cost of the single flights in the direction of Baku-Nakhchivan-Baku will comprise AZN 95 as compared to previous AZN 16, AZN 39 for Ganja-Nakhchivan-Ganja, AZN 56 for Baku-Ganja-Baku, AZN 41 for Baku-Lankaran-Baku and AZN 52 for the Baku-Zakatala-Baku.
According to Masimov, though the confirmed prices meet the situation in the market, the price rise should not be hiking but gradual, in consideration with the current status of the population.
The rise in price will decrease the number of the passenger traveling by Air and the population will prefer buses, which is also not as profitable as the route is via Iran.
The Baku-Nakhchivan-Baku bus route was opened in November. The route passes via the territory of Iran, because the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is currently in blockade and has the connection with the rest part of the country only via the airways. The cost of the ticket is AZN 14.