Silk Way West Airlines receives fourth Boeing 777F

Silk Way West Airlines has taken delivery of its fourth Boeing 777 Freighter, which has arrived in Baku following a direct flight from Seattle. The aircraft is part of the airline’s ongoing fleet renewal programme and reflects its consistent progress in modernising its long-haul cargo fleet. The newly delivered aircraft is the fourth of six Boeing 777 Freighters ordered by Silk Way West Airlines, reaffirming the company’s steady execution of its strategic fleet development plans. As part of this renewal strategy, the airline has phased out two Boeing 747-400 Freighters, further optimising fleet efficiency and performance. The delivery of the remaining two Boeing 777F  is expected in 2027, which will mark the completion of the first phase of Silk Way West Airlines’ fleet renewal programme. Commenting on the delivery, Wolfgang Meier, President of Silk Way West Airlines, said: “The delivery of our fourth Boeing 777 Freighter demonstrates our disciplined approach to fleet renewal and our ability to deliver on long-term strategic commitments. By transitioning away from older aircraft and introducing next-generation freighters, we are strengthening our operational performance, supporting sustainability objectives, and laying a solid foundation for the next phase of fleet modernisation.” The Boeing 777 Freighter is among the most advanced cargo aircraft in operation today, combining long-range capability with high payload performance and improved fuel efficiency. Its integration into the fleet supports Silk Way West Airlines’ focus on operational excellence, reliability, and future-oriented growth. With this delivery, Silk Way West Airlines’ total fleet now stands at 12 aircraft, reflecting a modernised composition aligned with the airline’s long-term fleet renewal strategy. Beginning in 2028, the airline will launch the second phase of its fleet modernisation program, which foresees the delivery of four Airbus A350 Freighters and four Boeing 777-8 Freighters. In addition to replacing older aircraft, this phase will support capacity growth, allowing Silk Way West Airlines to expand its operations while maintaining a modern and efficient fleet. This phase is planned to be completed by 2030, by which time the airline’s total fleet is expected to reach 20 wide-body aircraft. Airbus advances A350F programme   Airbus has confirmed that the A350F, the freighter programme is progressing, marking major industrial milestones with the first development aircraft currently in final assembly, and the programme securing a 54% market share in the new-generation large freighter segment. Industrially, the programme is now fully underway. Sections for the second development aircraft, MSN 701, are arriving in the Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Toulouse, France, and first aircraft MSN 700 is continuing the assembly process that started in Q3 2025. “The A350F programme is progressing according to our development plan, and the entry of the first aircraft into the FAL was a major achievement for the teams involved,” said Crawford Hamilton, Head of Freighter Marketing at Airbus. “It reinforces our confidence in the aircraft, the programme’s execution and our long-term freighter strategy.” Airbus remains on track for first flight later in 2026, with entry into service planned in 2027. A two-aircraft flight test campaign will be conducted using MSN 700 and MSN 701. The two development aircraft will be involved in a light flight test campaign of around 600 hours in total, covering various areas such as the cargo loading system, main deck cargo door, environmental control system and smoke detection. The A350F certification basis has been established with EASA, and multiple full-scale development and certification test benches are already in operation. These benches are designed to de-risk the flight test programme and ensure a high level of maturity at entry into service. A key feature of the A350F is its main-deck cargo door – the largest of any commercial aircraft, with a clear opening width of 4.3 metres (169 inches). It is the industry’s first composite main-deck cargo door, delivering weight savings, and features an electrically powered opening system aligned with the A350’s architecture. Its rear-fuselage position helps maintain a safe centre of gravity during loading. Asia-Pacific remains a key growth market for the A350F. Recent commitments include Korean Air’s conversion of seven A350-1000 orders to A350F freighters, Air China Cargo’s order for six aircraft, and STARLUX Airlines’ order for five additional A350Fs. These add to earlier orders from Cathay Cargo and Singapore Airlines Cargo. Asia-Pacific air cargo traffic grew by 9% in 2025, outpacing global growth rates, driven by expanding industrial economies across the region. Over the next 20 years, Airbus forecasts demand for 2,605 new freighters worldwide, with Asia-Pacific accounting for around one-third of deliveries. “The data is clear: the future of air cargo is centred in Asia-Pacific,” said Crawford Hamilton, Head of Freighter Marketing at Airbus. “Strong regional order momentum and market share underline customer confidence in the A350F. With its record-breaking cargo door, superior fuel efficiency and solid customer backing, it is the right aircraft at the right time for this market.” For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Sally Passey at [email protected]