Silk Way West Airlines recently celebrated a decade of flights to Japan, which began with an inaugural Baku–Komatsu flight back in 2016. Since then, the airline has added Kansai and Narita to its Japanese network and now operates two weekly flights. Over ten years, it has completed around 1,300 flights to and from Japan and moved more than 145,000 tons of cargo.
“The milestone comes as Japan’s air cargo market continues to grow, with 2025 volumes estimated to be around 12% higher than in 2024. As one of Asia’s leading air cargo gateways, Japan plays a vital role in connecting regional and intercontinental trade flows, supported by advanced infrastructure, frequent international links and a strong focus on high-value, time-sensitive goods,” the press release states, emphasizing Silk Way West Airlines’ interest and footprint in the market, acting as a bridge between East and West via Baku, where it channels Japanese shipments onward to Central Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and beyond. “Japan remains a strategically important market for Silk Way West Airlines and an important part of the airline’s broader vision to strengthen trade links between East and West through Baku,” the airline confirmed.
The airline hosted an official anniversary event at The Ritz-Carlton in Tokyo, celebrating with partners, government officials, embassies, and civil aviation authorities.
Zaur Akhundov, President of Silk Way Group, said: “This 10-year milestone reflects the strong partnership Silk Way West Airlines has built in Japan over the past decade. We greatly value the trust of our customers, partners and stakeholders in Japan, and we remain committed to strengthening this cooperation and supporting cargo connectivity between our regions in the years ahead.”
