Airbus secures third A350F order in November with Silk Way West Airlines’ deal
Silk Way West Airlines has doubled its Airbus A350F backlog to four aircraft.
Airbus has announced that Azerbaijan-based cargo carrier Silk Way West Airlines has ordered another two A350F cargo aircraft, essentially doubling the airline’s order book for the freighter.
On November 19, 2025, during the third day of the Dubai Airshow 2025, Airbus announced that Silk Way West Airlines doubled its A350F order book with an order for two additional aircraft of the type.
Wolfgang Meier, the President of Silk Way West Airlines, said that the A350F will strengthen the company’s “leading position in the global air freight market as we continue to modernise our fleet and reduce our carbon footprint.”
Currently, Silk Way West Airlines operates a fleet of five 747-400F, five 747-8F, and three 777F aircraft, and in addition to the four A350Fs it now has in its backlog, the cargo carrier is still awaiting the delivery of five 777Fs, including two 777-8F aircraft, according to Boeing’s orders and deliveries filings.
The Azerbaijani airline ordered the pair of 777-8Fs with two extra options in November 2022. In March 2024, when Silk Way West Airlines purchased an additional 777F, it said that the trio of cargo aircraft would be delivered by 2027, including one in 2025.
Nevertheless, this is Airbus’ third A350F order in November. On November 14, after gaining its shareholders’ approval, Air China Cargo confirmed the purchase of six A350Fs – the airline’s initial announcement included four options, which were not mentioned in the latest press release – and during the second day of the Dubai Airshow, Etihad Airways expanded its A350F order book with an additional three units.
Airbus’ orders and deliveries filings showed that one undisclosed customer ordered three A350Fs in January, which could be Etihad Airways’ deal, meaning that the European planemaker already has that order in its order book.
As of October 31, the European planemaker had booked 74 orders from 12 customers for its next-generation freighter, which could rise to as many as 85, if Etihad Airways is not the undisclosed customer that booked the trio of A350Fs.
In comparison, Boeing’s orders and deliveries numbers showed that as of October 31, it had 59 gross orders for the 777-8F, and unfilled orders for 54 777F aircraft.
Rytis Beresnevicius
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