Azerbaijan-based Silk Way West Airlines has taken delivery of its third B747-8F (with two more on order) with the carrier saying it will use the new freighter to launch services to Singapore (SIN) and Komatsu (KMQ) in Japan.

Komatsu is a major manufacturing centre for construction equipment and woven fabric, including carbon fibre used in an increasing number of industries like automotive and aerospace. Luxembourg-based Cargolux also operates into Komatsu with B747-400Fs.

Silk Way West’s second B747-8F was used to open a new direct service to New York JFK, in May and during an interview with Payload Asia that same month Nidjat Babayev, VP global sales, Europe and Asia for Silk Way West Airlines said a second delivery in August would see Singapore and Japan added, followed by Hanoi with the fourth delivery in the Spring of 2016.

“Of course as all the big carriers we have to be present in all continents,” Babayev said at the time. “In the beginning we started Europe-Asia because we are in the middle of Europe and Asia and now we will expand.” The next destination on the radar he said, is Africa.

Silk Way West Airlines was formed in 2012 to take over the scheduled-service business of Silk Way Airlines, which then focused on the charter business with a fleet of 10 Ilyushin IL-76 and Antonov AN-12 freighters that was ultimately pared down to five plus one Stage 4 noise compliant for flights into Europe.

Silk Way West Airlines then took over the operation of the Boeing freighters – two B767-300Fs – to which it added three B747-400Fs and then ultimately the -8Fs. Earlier this year Silk Way West Airlines transferred one of its B747-400Fs to SW Italia, a Milan-based startup in which it is a joint-venture partner, followed by the sale of its two B767 freighters to FedEx.

Silk Way Airlines meanwhile, continues to operate the fleet of Ilyushins and Antonov AN-12s and in mid-May it signed a firm order with the Antonov Design Bureau for ten An-178 freighters, making it the launch customer.