THE IMPACT OF LOW-COST AIRLINES ON TOURISM DEVELOPMENT: INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE AND PROSPECTS FOR AZERBAIJAN

The aim of the study is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the impact of low-cost carriers (LCCs) on the tourism sector based on international experience, and to provide a scientific and theoretical assessment of the development prospects of this segment in Azerbaijan. The relevance of the topic is determined by the fact that over the past decades LCCs have become the fastest-growing segment of the global aviation market, significantly increased the accessibility of air travel, and led to substantial structural changes in tourist flows. The lack of systematic research on this issue in the Azerbaijani context necessitates filling the existing gap in the academic literature and enhances the theoretical and methodological significance of the article for regional economic studies. The article employs methods of systemic analysis, comparative analysis, economic-statistical analysis, and graphical interpretation. The information base of the research comprises the annual reports of Wizz Air Holdings, aviation statistics from CAPA and OAG, IATA reports, tourism indicators of Budapest Airport, as well as the scientific works of Russian, Azerbaijani, and foreign scholars. The author has systematized the operating principles of LCCs, revealed the mechanisms of their impact on tourism and the macroeconomy based on specific empirical indicators, and analyzed the possibilities of applying international experience to the aviation and tourism market of Azerbaijan. The research addresses the following scientific questions: what structural factors underlie the business model of LCCs? How do such companies influence the formation of tourist flows and the development of destinations? What is the macroeconomic effectiveness of such carriers as exemplified by Wizz Air? How can Azerbaijan more efficiently utilize the potential of this segment given its existing airport network and geographical position? The results of the article are of theoretical, methodological, and practical importance for airline managers, tour operators, government regulators, and the academic community engaged in research on this sector of the economy, while also shaping conceptual directions for future empirical research.