Silk Way West adds two freighters to fleet and expands network

Silk Way West Airlines is taking on two additional 747 freighters and increasing its European services.

The Azerbaijan airline received a former Malaysian Airlines Cargo 747-400F last week, and has a second arriving in June.

The carrier announced that it had started twice weekly flights into Liege in April, and it also relaunched operations into Budapest after a two-year hiatus.

“The aim is to further knit our European network by adding more destinations and maintaining a denser schedule in order to offer our customers the highest flexibility,” said Wolfgang Meier, President and CEO.

Silk Way West currently operates to some 45 destinations.

In other network news, Ethiopian Airlines is to launch a four-times-a-week operation between Addis Ababa and Manchester Airport in December. Initially the 787 service will transit via Brussels.

Manchester Airport noted: “It will serve as a key trade route for Northern businesses, opening up fresh export opportunities and delivering cost and journey time savings to those already operating there.”

“The socio-economic implication of the new flight is immense,” said Ethiopian Airlines CEO, Tewolde Gebremariam.

“With vast investment and trade potentials between Africa and the UK, the upcoming flight holds the promise of boosting trade, investment and tourism with ample business opportunities for investors and business people from both regions.”

Africa’s largest airline has doubled its fleet in the past 10 years, and this year plans to launch 10 new destinations within six months.