Summary
- Silk Way West Airlines has received its first Boeing 777F aircraft, chosen for its fuel efficiency and long-range capability.
- The airline plans to acquire four more 777F aircraft and two additional 777-8F aircraft over the next seven years.
- The addition of the 777F to Silk Way West’s fleet allows them to reach new global cargo hubs and increase their cargo capacity.
Boeing Aerospace and Silk Way West Airlines announced today the delivery of the first Boeing 777F aircraft delivered to the Azerbaijani cargo airline. The aircraft arrived at Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD) on October 3 from Seattle. This delivery makes Silk Way West the newest operator of the 777F.
Freighter aircraft delivery
Silk Way West decided on the 777F due to its increased fuel efficiency and long-range ability. The cargo airline is set to take delivery of four more 777F aircraft, for a total of five, and two additional 777-8F aircraft. These deliveries will be spread out over the next seven years until 2030. The President of Silk Way West Airlines, Wolfgang Meier, spoke about the delivery in a statement. He said,
“We are thrilled to welcome the arrival of our first Boeing 777F to Baku, marking a significant milestone for Silk Way West Airlines. This addition to our fleet not only enhances our capabilities but also underlines our commitment to providing sustainable cargo services to our customers. We look forward to leveraging the advanced features of the Boeing 777F to further strengthen our position in the global cargo market.”
The new acquisition of the aircraft allows Silk Way West to reach new global cargo hubs from its base in Baku. The 777F also allows the airline to increase its cargo capacity to help meet the increased cargo demand across the world. The 777 freighter boasts a range of 9,200 kilometers (5716 miles) and has a maximum payload of 107,000 kilograms (236,000 pounds).
Photo: Boeing
Boeing’s Vice President of Sales, Eurasia, Paul Righi, also spoke about the recent delivery. Righi stated,
“With the global air cargo fleet expected to grow by more than 60% over the next 20 years, the unmatched efficiency of the 777 Freighter will boost Silk Way West’s capabilities and allow them to further scale their world-class cargo operations. We are honored to strengthen our partnership as Silk Way West continues to build its freighter fleet.”
The freighter variant also has a taller fuselage diameter, allowing larger cargo bins to be used. The main cargo door on the aircraft is 3.72 meters (12.2 feet) wide to assist in loading the larger cargo.
Boeing’s best-selling freighter variant
The recent delivery of the 777 freighter to Silk Way West adds to the freighter variants currently flying worldwide. Boeing currently provides more than 90% of the world’s dedicated freighter capacity. This includes both produced freighter variants and converted aircraft. The 777F is also Boeing’s top-selling freighter of all time and has delivered over 250 777Fs.
Photo: Tom Boon | Simple Flying
Earlier this summer, the global freighter fleet continued to grow with the delivery of another 777F to Atlas Air. The company, which will operate the aircraft for MSC Air Cargo, has an additional two freighters on order and already operates one. Atlas Air expects to take delivery of the remaining two aircraft in Q4 of this year.
Also, earlier this year, DHL-Singapore Airlines received its third 777F. Although Singapore Airlines operates its own cargo division, the airline’s fleet of 777Fs will operate exclusively for DHL Express. The airline also expects to receive two more freighters, for a total of five in its fleet.