Baku, August 7 – As summer temperatures soar to 40 degrees Celsius across Azerbaijan, frustration is mounting among public transport users over broken or entirely absent air conditioning systems. The growing number of complaints highlights not only the discomfort faced by commuters but also raises questions about passenger safety and rights.
Transport expert Aslan Asadov told Bizim.Media that the issue isn’t limited to the summer months.
“Passenger comfort suffers first and foremost, undermining public trust in the transportation system. Unfortunately, some drivers and operators wrongly believe that using air conditioning is an unnecessary fuel expense. That’s a misconception. Poor ventilation impacts both passengers’ health and the overall quality of service,” Asadov said.
He stressed the need for stricter penalties against negligent operators and called for higher service standards in the sector.
According to Azerbaijan’s Law on Road Transport, operators are legally required to ensure passenger services meet safety and sanitary-hygienic standards—functioning ventilation systems included. Failure to comply may result in financial penalties for carriers.
