At most airports, you have a genuine choice between taxis and pre-booked transfers. Fuzuli is different. The honest answer is that a pre-booked transfer is not just the better option — it is effectively the only reliable one.
The taxi situation
Fuzuli Airport does not have an organized taxi rank. The surrounding area is sparsely populated and still under reconstruction. You might occasionally find a local driver near the terminal, but this is not something you can count on. There are no metered taxis, no taxi companies with dispatch services covering the airport, and ride-hailing apps like Bolt (which work in Baku) have no coverage here.
If you do find an informal driver, there will be no meter and no fixed pricing. You would need to negotiate in Azerbaijani, and you would have no recourse if something goes wrong. The vehicle condition and driver credentials would be unknown.
Pre-booked transfers
A pre-booked transfer means a driver is confirmed and waiting when your flight lands. You know the price beforehand, the vehicle type is specified, and someone is accountable for getting you to your destination. For a remote airport like FZL, this removes genuine risk — not just inconvenience.
Most transfers from Fuzuli are arranged through Baku-based services or through hotels and guesthouses in Shusha. Some tour operators handling Karabakh trips also offer airport pickup as a standalone service.
What about driving yourself
Some travelers rent a car in Baku and drive to the Karabakh region (4-5 hours). This gives you the most flexibility but means skipping the FZL flight entirely. If you do fly into Fuzuli and want a vehicle for exploring, arranging a car with driver for the duration of your stay is more practical than trying to rent a self-drive car at the airport.
The verdict
This is not a situation where you weigh the pros and cons of two viable options. At Fuzuli Airport, pre-booking is the answer. The region is beautiful and increasingly welcoming to visitors, but its transport infrastructure has not caught up with its ambitions yet. Plan ahead and you will be fine.