Cargo operator Silk Way West Airlines is expanding its international network with an order for five of Boeing’s 777 freighters, as it looks to meet the growing cargo demand around the globe.

The deal marks the first purchase of the long-range twin-engine widebody freighter in the Caspian region and Central Asia.

“This deal is an incremental part of our fleet renewal and our commitment to meet our customers’ expectations. I am confident that the acquisition of new freighters will further strengthen our leading position on the global air freight market for the next 15 to 20 years,” said Zaur Akhundov, Silk Way Group president.

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The Azerbaijan-based cargo airline and Boeing announced the deal during a signing ceremony in Baku graced by Azerbaijan’s minister of transport, communications and high technologies, the US ambassador to Azerbaijan and Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

“Silk Way West Airlines has been rapidly expanding the geographic reach of its network. With the global air freight market forecasted to grow more than 60% over the next 20 years, this new order bolsters their ability to meet trade and e-commerce demand in the Commonwealth of Independent States, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America,” said Deal.

The 777F is expected to complement the airline’s 747 freighter fleet, which consists of five 747-8 and seven 747-400 freighters. These cargo jets are capable of carrying tall and outsized cargo loads on 3-meter-tall pallets, with 777F’s main deck side cargo door spanning 3.72 meters wide, which allows outsized cargo beyond tall payloads.

Founded in 2012 in Baku, Silk Way West Airlines is the largest cargo airline in the Caspian Sea region with annual cargo turnover of 350,000 tonnes. Based at Heydar Aliyev International Airport, the airline operates approximately 350 monthly scheduled flights to 40 destinations around the world.