Wolfgang Meier’s core message at the German Air Cargo Association (acd) in Frankfurt last Tuesday (28OCT25), was that Baku is increasingly becoming a central hub for air freight and land transport between the Far East and Europe.
His participation at the acd event, attended by roughly 40 members of the air cargo industry, was like a homecoming for Wolfgang Meier. The 62-year-old hails from Frankfurt and is an enthusiastic supporter of the local first division soccer club, Eintracht Frankfurt. His professional career to date is impressive. After holding management positions at the former logistics player, Panalpina, and Russian carrier, AirBridge Cargo, he has been at the helm of Silk Way West Airlines since 01JAN18.
Azerbaijan benefits from traffic shifts
His main message to the attendees was centered around the increasing shift in traffic flows between the Orient and the Occident, from the northern corridor via Russia and Belarus to the Middle Corridor across the Caucasus, Central Asia, and Anatolia. These rail and air freight routes south of Russia are fostering the rapid development of an economic area with nearly 110 million consumers, boosting the hunger for efficient transport solutions, Meier emphasized.
Azerbaijan, in particular, benefits from this development, as the core routes of the Middle Corridor intersect there.
ALAT will drive economic development, predicts Meier
Silk Way West responded very early to the apparent shift in traffic flows by growing its own cargo fleet and launching the ALAT Cargo project.
This foresight is evident in the construction of the airline’s new cargo hub, called ALAT Cargo Airport. It is owned and managed by Silk Way West, with dnata responsible for ground handling activities. The construction will cover an area of 750 hectares. ALAT Cargo Airport is located near the shores of the Caspian Sea, about a 1.5-hour drive south of Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku. Due to its advantageous geographical location, ALAT will become a multi-modal hub for air, surface, and sea transport, hence an attractive freight gateway for the entire greater region, enthused the manager. Initiated three years ago, the project is now taking shape. CargoForwarder Global recently outlined its current status.
Operational in the second half of 2026
Meier pointed out that the 4,000-meter runway is largely complete, while work on the buildings of the adjacent Cargo Village and logistics center is running according to plan. The first cargo aircraft is scheduled to land there in the second half of 2026. It doesn’t take much guessing that it will be a Silk Way West B777 freighter.
During the recent Caspian Air Cargo Symposium (22-24SEP25), the executive emphasized that environmental criteria were given high priority in the project. “We are building a green airport with solar panels on the roof of the facilities, providing power to run the e-vehicles used for ground processes.” He also confirmed that his airline would receive ten additional freighters by 2032, including four A350F alongside Boeing Triple Sevens. “We go for production freighters, not conversions, due to their higher efficiency, lower operational costs and fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to P2F aircraft. In the recent past, we have seen a market trend in favor of production freighters,” Meier concluded.
Thinking beyond regional boundaries, Richter
acd Vice President, Ingo Richter, emphasized that the Middle Corridor is animportant addition to existing and future trade routes: “It offers an alternative connection between Europe and Asia, ensuring long-term stability and diversification. Projects such as ALAT, exemplify that the industry must think beyond regional boundaries and seek new ways of collaboration,” the official echoed.
Silk Way West Airlines currently serves over 40 destinations in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, India, and North America. In addition, the cargo carrier offers the market charter options. In 2024, more than 500,000 tons of air cargo passed through its current Baku hub, Heydar Aliyev International Airport. Once ALAT Cargo Airport is fully operational, Silk Way West Airlines will move its entire traffic to its new gateway.
