# Silk Way West Airlines (IATA 7L · ICAO AZG · AWB 501)

> Silk Way West Airlines is the Azerbaijani all-cargo airline with IATA designator 7L and AWB prefix 501. The company belongs to Silk Way Group and operates only its own widebody freighters on scheduled and charter services. Its hub is Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku, on the Middle Corridor between China and Europe. For forwarders Baku offers a short transfer between East Asia and Europe without routing through the congested Gulf hubs. The airline can be booked directly as well as through cargo.one and WebCargo, and shipments are tracked under AWB prefix 501.

## Quick facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Legal | "Silk Way West Airlines" Limited Liability Company |
| IATA | `7L` |
| ICAO | `AZG` |
| AWB prefix | `501` |
| Country | AZ |
| Group | Silk Way Group (Silk Way Airlines LLC 98 %, Silk Way Development LLC 2 %) |
| Tracking | https://www.silkwaywest.com/e-services/shipment-tracking/ |

## Overview

"Silk Way West Airlines" Limited Liability Company is the largest all-cargo carrier in the Caspian region. It was registered in Azerbaijan on 19 January 2012 and flew its first freighter service in July 2012, a Boeing 747-400F from Baku to Frankfurt-Hahn. The company is owned 98 per cent by Silk Way Airlines LLC and 2 per cent by Silk Way Development LLC, both part of Silk Way Group; the ultimate controlling party is Zaur Akhundov. Its registered office and hub is Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku (GYD).

The airline operates its own freighters only, on scheduled and charter services; it offers no belly capacity. It holds its own Azerbaijani air operator certificate (AOC-007) and the EASA third-country operator authorisation AZE-0001. As of February 2026 the fleet comprised twelve widebody freighters, including four Boeing 777Fs and five Boeing 747-8Fs, the remainder being Boeing 747-400Fs. Of six 777Fs on order the final two are due in 2027. From 2028 four Airbus A350Fs and four Boeing 777-8Fs will follow, taking the fleet to twenty widebodies by 2030.

The network reaches from Baku into Europe, the CIS, the Middle East, South and East Asia as well as North and South America. In 2023 the carrier operated 11,589 flights and carried 332,139 tonnes of cargo; revenue reached about 2.36 billion Azerbaijani manat in 2024.

For forwarders: IATA designator 7L, ICAO designator AZG, AWB prefix 501. Shipments can be tracked on the airline's website, while rates and bookings are also available through cargo.one and WebCargo. Documented approvals include IOSA registration, IEnvA certification, CEIV Lithium Batteries certification and ACC3 authorisations for flights into the EU and the United Kingdom.

## Hubs

- GYD

## Fleet

- Boeing 777F × 4

- Boeing 747-8F × 5

- Boeing 777F × 2

- Boeing 747-400F × 3

- Airbus A350F × 4

- Boeing 777-8F × 4

## Sources

- [Silk Way West Airlines - offizielle Website](https://www.silkwaywest.com/)

- [IATA - Current Airline Members, Silk Way West Airlines](https://www.iata.org/en/about/members/airline-list/silk-way-west-airlines/457/)

- [Silk Way West Airlines - Finanzbericht 2024 (IFRS, geprüft durch Deloitte)](https://www.silkwaywest.com/site/assets/files/2070/silk_way_west_airlines_financial_report_2024.pdf)

- [Silk Way West Airlines - Nachhaltigkeitsbericht 2022-2023](https://www.silkwaywest.com/site/assets/files/2230/swwa_sustainability_report_2022_2023.pdf)

- [EASA - Authorised Third Country Operators (TCO Status Report)](https://www.easa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/dfu/TCO_Status_Report_0.pdf)

- [Air Cargo News - Silk Way West continues freighter fleet renewal](https://www.aircargonews.net/airlines/2026/02/silk-way-west-continues-freighter-fleet-renewal/)

- [CAPA - Centre for Aviation, Airline Profile Silk Way West Airlines](https://centreforaviation.com/data/profiles/airlines/silk-way-west-airlines-7l)

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