Silk Way West Airlines has finalised an order of two 777-8 Freighters with Boeing. The deal includes options for two additional airplanes.

The Azerbaijani cargo carrier serves 40 destinations around the world, and becomes the first customer in the Eurasia region to order the 777-8.

The order was previously listed as unidentified on Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries website.

“We are pleased to announce this order with our longstanding partner Boeing and become one of the world’s first customers for the newest freighter,” said Silk Way Group’s president Zaur Akhundov. “This year Silk Way West Airlines celebrates its 10th anniversary, and over the past decade the carrier has been operating an all-Boeing fleet. Today’s agreement reflects our ongoing investment in Boeing’s market-leading freighters. Our fleet renewal plans will help to further reduce our operating costs and enhance fuel efficiency as well as make air freight services in our region more sustainable.”

Boeing Commercial Airplanes’ president and CEO Stan Deal commented: “With sustained demand for air cargo tied to expanding e-commerce and air freight’s speed and reliability, Boeing expects the global freighter fleet to increase by 60 per cent through 2041.

“We are proud that Boeing products, including this order for the 777-8 Freighter, continue to drive Silk Way West Airlines’ expansion plans and help realise the ambition of making Baku a global cargo hub.”