Silk Way West orders three Boeing 747-8 freighters

Boeing and Azerbaijan-based Silk Way West announced an order for three 747-8 Freighter airplanes Tuesday valued at more than $1.1 billion at current list prices.

Silk Way West is an enterprise of the Silk Way Group, which includes 23 companies working in the aviation industry and related services. The airline currently operates seven Boeing airplanes, including two 767-300 Freighters, three 747-400 Freighters and two 747-8 Freighters.

“Compared one on one, the 747-8 Freighter has no competitors,” Boeing said in a company press release. “The 747-8 Freighter provides cargo operators the lowest operating costs and best economics of any large freighter airplane while providing enhanced environmental performance.” The 747-8 Freighter offers 16 percent more revenue cargo volume than the 747-400, while keeping its iconic nose door. 

With 56 747-8 Freighters in service with eight customers, the 747-8 Freighters have logged more than 500,000 flight hours and more than 88,000 flight cycles.