I'm from Baku and I frequently visit this airport. It is very small tidy and clean, but washrooms are very bad - no toilet paper no water, some of the doors cannot be locked etc. I rate toilets 1 out of 5. You have to go through many checks; security customs, immigration, airport authority and so on. A security guy will check you passport and ticket, then the same documents will be checked by the check-in personnel, then by immigration, then by customs, then by gate people. After your check in when you are boarding there is a security check there. They will ask you to take off you shoes, belts and jackets. Every time there you find passengers arguing with airport staff. Sometimes, when not crowded you get things done very fast. There are long queues at the passport control because only 2 or 3 counters are open. There are no separate counters for locals and foreigners. Physically there are, but in both counters you find mix.

The fastest and the most pain-free airport I've ever been to. Not a lot of shops or anything around though, but the check-in is painless and fast: nobody searches your bags. I didn't have any problems at all.

Went through this airport a few times late last year. Found it to be an irritating airport, such as the process of getting a visa. You find yourself being bounced between passport control and the visa application desk. When you collect your bags, your tags are checked to ensure you have the correct ones. When you come to leave, you and your baggage go through two security checks before you even get to check-in. Expect to have your baggage searched and any batteries you have to be removed. It is advisable to lock your baggage as things have a habit of disappearing after you check in. Also watch out for the guys who want to grab your bags and wrap them in industrial shrink wrap and then charge you five times what they charge the locals. Once you get to departures duty free can be non-existent or closed. Although the last time I left they had finally stocked the shops and opened them. You then have another security check at the departure gate. Leaving you totally relieved and demoralised when you actually take off. Which is a pity because the city of Baku is a really nice place and the people are good.