Silk Way West Finalizes Order for Three More Boeing 747-8Fs

Azerbaijan-based cargo airline Silk Way West has placed an order for three Boeing 747-8 Freighter aircraft.

The order, which Boeing Commercial Airplanes values at more than $1.1 billion at current list prices, was first announced as an upcoming deal on January 8.

On March 3, 2015, Azerbaijan’s Silk Way West Airlines placed an order for three Boeing 747-8 Freighters, to add to two already in service

“Silk Way Airlines’ success and profitability as a cargo operator is a direct result of investing in its fleet and services and growing its regional and international footprint,” says Zaur Akhundov, president of the Silk Way Group of Companies. “I am confident we will maintain our rate of growth, supported by three new Boeing 747-8 Freighters.”

Silk Way West is a cargo airline which belongs to the Silk Way Group, which owns 23 companies working in the aviation industry and related services.

The airline currently operates seven Boeing cargo aircraft, including two 767-300 Freighters, three 747-400 Freighters and two 747-8 Freighters.

According to Boeing, the 747-8 Freighter offers 16 per cent more revenue cargo volume than the 747-400 Freighter, while keeping its iconic nose door.

In August 2014, Baku, Azerbaijan-based cargo carrier Silk Way Airlines took delivery of two Boeing 747-8 Freighters it had ordered. The second aircraft was delivered on August 28

Today 56 747-8 Freighters are in service with eight customers. The aircraft have logged more than 500,000 flight hours and more than 88,000 flight cycles.

Boeing claims the 747-8Fs are performing with the highest dispatch reliability and utilization rates of any four-engine aircraft in service.

Airbus might disagree: A380s are now operating what is currently the longest commercial-aviation non-stop service in the world, Qantas’ westbound flight from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport to Sydney Airport.