• Jordan and Azerbaijan are deepening aviation ties, with new talks on traffic rights and regulatory alignment set to boost air cargo flows across the Caucasus–Levant corridor.

• While current trade is modest, high-value goods such as pharmaceuticals, perishables, and e-commerce parcels align with airfreight growth priorities in both countries.

• Upgraded airport infrastructure, cold-chain capacity, and customs digitalisation position the two nations to develop reliable, multimodal logistics links connecting Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East.

Jordan and Azerbaijan are stepping up aviation cooperation, a development with growing significance for the air cargo sector in the Caucasus–Levant corridor. Senior officials from Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) and a high-level Jordanian delegation met in Baku to discuss traffic rights, operational coordination, and the broader civil aviation framework, signaling a strategic shift that may reshape passenger and cargo flows.

While framed around civil aviation and tourism, the talks carry important freight implications. Both nations occupy strategic geographies linking Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East, and the Eastern Mediterranean. Improved air connectivity could open opportunities for high-value cargo, multimodal trade corridors, and more resilient regional supply chains.

A modest but promising trade corridor

Bilateral trade between Jordan and Azerbaijan is modest, averaging US$25–30 million annually from 2021 to 2024. Yet the traded goods—pharmaceuticals, fertilizers, medical supplies, processed foods, and cosmetics from Jordan; petrochemicals, plastics, carpets, and packaged foods from Azerbaijan—align well with air-freight modalities, where value density and shelf life are key.

Current annual air cargo movements are under 2,500 tonnes, but both sides see potential in pharmaceuticals, perishables, e-commerce, and industrial components. Jordan’s pharmaceutical exports exceed US$1.5 billion annually, relying heavily on time-sensitive air transport. Azerbaijan is scaling exports of food products and electronics as it develops logistics infrastructure and participates in the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route.

Aviation alignment within a broader logistics strategy

Discussions between AZAL President Samir Rzayev and Jordanian officials focused on expanding flight frequencies, improving traffic rights, and strengthening regulatory cooperation. Rzayev described the talks as part of “a shared vision for developing civil aviation as a driver of trade, logistics, and regional integration.”

Jordan emphasised that enhanced connectivity could support economic diversification and strengthen supply chains linking the Levant and the Caucasus. Both nations are upgrading logistics ecosystems: Baku Heydar Aliyev International Airport now handles over 300,000 tonnes annually and plays a key role in the Middle Corridor connecting China, Central Asia, Turkey, and Europe. Jordan’s Queen Alia International Airport has expanded cold-chain capacity, screening systems, and dedicated handling zones for pharmaceuticals, perishables, and e-commerce parcels. Together, the airports provide a strong foundation for point-to-point belly freight, scheduled freighters, and integrated multimodal services.

High-value cargo opportunities

The air cargo potential lies more in value than volume. Jordan’s pharmaceuticals require GDP-compliant handling and reliable scheduling; faster links to the Caucasus and Central Asia could strengthen competitiveness. Azerbaijan’s agri-exports, including fruits, vegetables, and processed foods, increasingly depend on temperature-controlled logistics, benefiting from direct or more frequent connections.

e-commerce is growing rapidly—Jordan at 14–17 percent annually, Azerbaijan nearly 20 percent—creating rising demand for small-parcel capacity, standardised customs procedures, and API-driven coordination.

Regulatory alignment

A major outcome of the Baku discussions is a commitment to regulatory harmonisation, including:

• Cooperation on aviation safety and security

• Easing traffic-rights restrictions

• Exploration of fifth-freedom cargo rights

• Streamlined cargo-handling procedures

• Enhanced customs and digital data exchange

Jordan’s digital-clearance reforms and Azerbaijan’s single-window customs system position both countries to reduce dwell times, minimise documentation inconsistencies, and enable more reliable multimodal flows.

An incremental but meaningful step

The dialogue does not guarantee immediate new services or cargo surges, but it signals a strategic intent to leverage aviation for economic diversification and supply-chain efficiency. Expanded traffic rights, coordinated infrastructure use, and seasonal or scheduled uplift could strengthen their position within the Middle East–Caucasus–Central Asia air-freight network.

For now, industry stakeholders are watching for trial freighters, expanded belly capacity, and regulatory announcements. Both Jordan and Azerbaijan recognise the value of cargo connectivity, and the latest dialogue marks a cautious but meaningful step toward unlocking that potential.