Nakhchivan International Airport — Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan

Cut off from the rest of Azerbaijan by a stretch of Armenian territory, the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic depends heavily on Nakhchivan International Airport for its links to the outside world. NAJ receives frequent shuttle flights from Baku operated by AZAL, Azerbaijan's national carrier, along with routes to Turkey, Russia, and other regional points, since overland travel to the Azerbaijani mainland is largely blocked by closed borders stemming from decades of tension with Armenia. The exclave borders Armenia, Iran, and a brief stretch of Turkey, giving it a distinct geopolitical position wedged between the South Caucasus and the Middle East. Nakhchivan city itself is one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the region, with layers of Persian, Ottoman, and Russian influence visible in its architecture and history. For residents and officials alike, the airport functions less as a convenience than as a lifeline, replacing the highways and railways that once tied the exclave to Baku before the borders closed.