Azerbaijan Airlines issued this statement on December 14, 2016:

It was decided to establish Azerbaijan’s own low-cost carrier at a meeting of the Board of CJSC Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL).

The new low-cost carrier, which was named Buta Airways, will be part of the CJSC Azerbaijan Airlines and will be a 100-percent owned subsidiary company of AZAL.

The airline will be based at Heydar Aliyev International Airport.

Buta Airways will have its own fleet on the basis of Embraer aircraft in its own livery, its own staff and independent tariff policy.

It is expected that Buta Airways will begin flights in autumn 2017.