Company profile and brief history for Silk Way West Airlines

Silk Way West Airlines is an Azerbaijani all-cargo airline headquartered and primarily based at Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD) in Baku, Azerbaijan. It operates as a subsidiary of the Silk Way Group, a privately held conglomerate focused on aviation logistics, alongside its sister company Silk Way Airlines (which handles a separate fleet of Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft). The airline specializes in scheduled and charter cargo services, connecting Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Middle East, Central and Eastern Asia, North America, and South America. As the largest cargo carrier in the Caspian Sea region, it handles an annual cargo turnover exceeding 500,000 tons and operates around 350 monthly flights to over 40 destinations. Key features include:

• Fleet: 12 dedicated Boeing freighters, consisting of Boeing 747-8F and 747-400F models. In 2021, it signed a deal for five Boeing 777 Freighters to expand capacity, with the third arriving by mid-2025. Future orders include the Boeing 777-8F and Airbus A350F.

• Certifications and Awards: IATA member since 2015; GDP-certified for pharmaceutical logistics; ISO 14001 for environmental management; CEIV Lithium Batteries certified; honored as “Cargo Airline of the Year 2020” by Incheon Airport, South Korea; and recognized as Azerbaijan’s top non-oil sector taxpayer.

• Workforce and Operations: Employs over 1,000 staff across four continents. It emphasizes specialized cargo handling, including time- and temperature-sensitive medical supplies, and supports humanitarian efforts like aid flights to Iraq.

• IATA/ICAO Codes: 7L (IATA), AZG (ICAO).

The airline positions itself as a key player in reviving ancient Silk Road trade routes via air, contributing to Azerbaijan’s economic diversification beyond oil.

Brief History

Silk Way West Airlines was founded in 2012 in Baku, Azerbaijan, as an expansion of the Silk Way Group’s cargo operations, which trace back to the establishment of Silk Way Airlines in 2001. The group’s parent entity, Silk Way Group, was formally created on July 14, 2006, to coordinate aviation and logistics activities under Azerbaijani leadership policies aimed at regional economic independence. The airline’s inaugural flight occurred in July 2012, with a Boeing 747-400F operating the Baku-Frankfurt-Hahn route, marking the start of its international network.

In 2015, it joined the International Air Transport Association (IATA), enhancing its global compliance and safety standards. The fleet grew steadily with Boeing 747 acquisitions, and by 2018, it launched new routes like Baku to Tianjin, China. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the airline played a pivotal role in medical supply distribution, earning its 2020 award from Incheon Airport.

By 2019, the Silk Way Group reorganized into three core entities: Silk Way Airlines, Silk Way West Airlines, and Silk Way Technics (for maintenance). In 2021, it committed to fleet modernization with the Boeing 777 order. Recent milestones include obtaining ISO 14001 certification in 2024 for sustainability, donating a Boeing 777 simulator to Azerbaijan’s National Aviation Academy, and launching a 2024 corporate social responsibility initiative to build and renovate six schools benefiting over 4,500 students. In October 2023, it hosted the Caspian Air Cargo Summit in Baku, drawing 400 delegates from 40 countries to discuss airfreight trends. As of 2025, the airline continues aggressive expansion, solidifying its status as a leading Eurasian cargo operator.