Silk Way West Airlines orders 2 additional Airbus A350F freighters at Dubai Airshow
November 19, 2025
Azerbaijan-based cargo airline Silk Way West Airlines has signed a firm contract for an additional two A350F freighter aircraft at the Dubai Airshow 2025.
The agreement, which takes the total order commitment by the carrier to four A350Fs, sees the yet-to-be-certified A350F form the backbone of Silk Way West Airlines’ fleet modernisation and expansion strategy for the future.
“We are delighted to extend our partnership with Airbus on the A350F programme. This order, bringing our total commitment to four aircraft, marks a major milestone in our company’s growth and reflects our confidence in the future of sustainable air freight,” said Wolfgang Meier, President of Silk Way West Airlines.
“The A350F will strengthen our leading position in the global air freight market as we continue to modernise our fleet and reduce our carbon footprint.”
“This repeat order from Silk Way West Airlines, the largest cargo airline in the Caspian Sea region, is a great vote of confidence at a time when the A350F is physically taking shape in our assembly lines,” added Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business.
“The A350F will ensure the airline maintains its leading position in the global air freight market and further enables its key role in developing Azerbaijan as a major global cargo hub at the heart of the Silk Road.”
Stay up to date with all the news from Dubai Airshow 2025 with AGN.
Silk Way West doubles up its A350F commitment
Silk Way West Airlines originally ordered its first two A350Fs in June 2022 when it signed a purchase agreement for two aircraft with an option for two more. The order marked a first for the Caspian region and represented a new milestone in the airline’s expansion strategy.
This latest transaction marks the conversion of those two options into firm orders. According to Airbus, the first two aircraft are due to be delivered to the Baku-based carrier in 2027 and 2028.
According to Planespotters.net, the company currently operates an all-Boeing fleet consisting of five Boeing 747-400Fs, four 747-8Fs, and three 777Fs. The arrival of the first A350F in 2027 will therefore mark the first time in its history that the carrier has operated an Airbus aircraft.
The airline first flew a commercial service in July 2012, and flies worldwide scheduled and charter cargo-only services.
Dubai Airshow sees more orders for the A350F
The A350F can carry a payload of up to 111 tonnes and will fly up to 4,700 nautical miles / 8,700 kilometres. Powered by the latest Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, the aircraft will bring a reduction in fuel consumption and carbon emissions of up to 40% when compared to previous generation aircraft with a similar payload-range capability.
The A350F will be able to operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) at entry-to-service, with the aim for 100% capability by 2030, as with all Airbus aircraft. At the end of October 2025, the all-new A350F had registered 74 orders from 12 customers.
Earlier at the Dubai Airshow, Airbus received an additional order for three A350F freighters from Etihad Airways, bringing the airline’s total A350F commitment to 10 aircraft. The airline already had seven A350Fs on order dating back to August 2022.
Featured image: Airbus
