Baku bus fleet reaches record numbers amid service quality concerns

The Azerbaijan Land Transport Agency (AYNA) is expanding Baku’s public transport capacity for the upcoming academic season. The number of buses deployed on city routes is set to reach a record 2,530, marking a 42% increase in the fleet over the last five years. This expansion includes the introduction of 8 new express lines and the reinforcement of 28 regular routes.

Despite these infrastructure increases, the agency faces growing public criticism regarding service quality. Citizens and analysts have reported persistent issues including bus delays, irregular intervals, overcrowding, malfunctioning air conditioning, and driver behavior. Critics argue that AYNA must move beyond simply increasing the number of vehicles to providing more effective oversight and enforcement of service standards among transport providers.