• 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.

The post Company profile and brief history for Silk Way West Airlines first appeared on AircrewNews.com.

The airline had ordered Boeing 777-8 freighters and Boeing 777 freighters in 2021 and 2022 as part of its fleet modernization. Silk Way West operates over 40 routes across Europe, the CIS, the Middle East, Central and Eastern Asia and the Americas, with an annual cargo turnover of more than 500,000 tonnes.

Onno Pietersma, Chief Operating Officer of Silk Way West Airlines, said, “We are pleased to announce this extension of our partnership. It will continue to help us deliver on our long-term strategy of sustainable growth and allow us to continuously improve the services we provide to our valuable customers.”

Russell Stokes, President and CEO of Commercial Engines and Services at GE Aerospace, said, “We are proud to continue building our relationship with Silk Way West Airlines as they modernize their fleet. GE Aerospace widebody engines represent the pinnacle of aviation technology, designed to lower operating costs and reduce environmental impact.”

GE Aerospace’s GEnx, GE90 and GE9X engines power the airline’s aircraft. The GE9X engine, available only on the Boeing 777X family, is the most fuel-efficient engine in its class. All GE Aerospace commercial engines are certified to run on sustainable aviation fuel blends.

Credits: Silky Way West Airline

The post Silk Way West Airlines extends services pact with GE Aerospace first appeared on AircrewNews.com.