Silk Way West confident in freighter delivery timelines while raising certification concerns

Azerbaijani cargo airline Silk Way West Airlines is doubling down on fleet renewal with new freighter deliveries arriving ahead of schedule, even as it voices caution over certification delays for future models.

Boeing delivered the third, among the total six, B777F to Silk Way West Airlines on August 30, 2025. 

"By January, we’ll add one more B777F to the fleet and retire one B747-400F, an older model. 10 new aircraft are on the way. By 2032, we’ll operate 18–19 aircraft, representing one of the youngest cargo fleets in the world," informs Wolfgang Meier, President & CEO, Silk Way West Airlines.

He was speaking at the Caspian Air Cargo Summit 2025 in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Tuesday (September 23, 2025).

The airline now has a fleet of three B777Fs, five 747-400Fs and five 747-8Fs. Silk Way West Airlines now has three unfilled B777 freighters. In addition, the carrier has two next-generation Boeing 777-8F freighters on order, with options for two more. The airline has also signed a purchase agreement for two Airbus A350F next-generation freighters, with an option for two more.

Talking about the delay in the freighter deliveries, Meier said, "Two years ago, our deliveries were delayed, but today Boeing has made great progress. For an airline of our size, even a one-year delivery delay is a huge challenge. Larger airlines with hundreds of aircraft can absorb such setbacks; we cannot. That’s why reliability and trust in our manufacturing partners are critical."

"Today, aircraft are arriving ahead of schedule, which is a welcome problem to have. Our newest aircraft, received just weeks ago. The next one is due around December or January, again, earlier than planned," he added.

However, he raised concerns about the B777-8Fs. "We want to understand how delays in certifying the B777-9 passenger aircraft might affect our freighter orders. That’s important for our planning, but overall we’re delighted to see deliveries accelerating."

Meanwhile, Darren A. Hulst, Vice President Commercial Marketing, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, reassured that the certification of the B777-9 is progressing, and they remain confident about the future of both programmes.

“Certification has been challenging, but not due to safety or quality. The issues are more about process and administration.”

“We’ve delivered 26 B777 Freighters through August this year, plus recent September deliveries. Looking forward, the first 777-8F test aircraft will enter production in Q4 2025 and roll out in early 2026 for flight testing,” he added.

Meier also informed that they considered conversions but chose factory-built freighters. "The economics simply don’t work for us: feedstock for 777 passenger aircraft is expensive because its demand hasn't gone down, and investing over $100 million in a 12-year-old plane doesn’t make sense."

He added, "The B777-8F offers 25–28 percent better performance, efficiency, and CO₂ reduction compared to older aircraft like the B747-400F. It carries more payload at significantly lower cost. For us, it’s the right choice."

Hulst pointed out that factory-produced freighters provide unmatched flexibility and long-term value.

“Conversions work in some markets, but given high feedstock prices, many operators now prefer new builds. We’ll continue supporting both options, but the trend is clear.”