Turkish Airlines launches direct flights to Baku

National flag carrier Turkish Airlines has launched direct flights between Esenboğa Airport in Ankara and Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku, Azerbaijan.

A cocktail party was held at Heydar Aliyev Airport on Monday to mark the maiden flight of the service.

Azerbaijan's Deputy Foreign Minister Nadir Hüseynov and Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Erkan Ozoral attended the event.

"Ties between Ankara and Baku will be further strengthened. Direct flights will bring us closer to each other," Ozoral said.

Turkish Airlines, founded in 1933 with a fleet of five aircraft, currently has a fleet of 335 aircraft (passenger and cargo) and flies to 308 destinations in 124 countries -- 49 domestic and 259 international.