Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are preparing to resume passenger ferry services across the Caspian Sea on the Kuryk–Baku (Alyat) route, marking another practical step in the development of transport links between the two countries against a backdrop of growing trade and freight flows along the Middle Corridor.
Alim Bayel, Kazakhstan’s ambassador to Azerbaijan, announced the resumption of passenger services on 9 September. According to him, the initiative came from the Kazakh side and received Azerbaijan’s support, and the relevant transport authorities of both countries have already begun work on launching the route as soon as possible.
Ferry services on this route operated until 2020, after which they were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Before services were suspended, around 1,500 passengers a year used the route. It is expected that, following the resumption of services, passenger numbers will be higher, given the increased economic and transport activity between the two countries.
The figure of 1,500 passengers is relatively small in itself. However, current conditions differ from those under which the route operated prior to the pandemic. In recent years, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have significantly expanded their transport infrastructure, strengthened trade links and progressively integrated their ports and railway systems into the Middle Corridor.
