As part of a wildlife reintroduction project, Silk Way West Airlines flew 100 yaks over more than 2,000 kilometers from Kyrgyzstan to Azerbaijan. The cargo experts transported the herd from Bishkek Manas International Airport to Baku Heydar Aliyev International Airport. Moving these animals was a challenge that the freight airline successfully completed in accordance with the request of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Thanks to the airline’s crew and loadmasters’ long experience with animals’ transportation, the yaks all were delivered safely to their destination, and were subsequently transported to their new pastures by truck from the airport.

Silk Way West Airlines has successfully handled numerous live animal shipments in the past, in accordance with all IATA regulations. The carrier’s extensive experience includes transportation of alpacas, kangaroos, dogs, horses and European bison.

Silk Way West Airlines aircraft provide their animal passengers with a perfectly air-conditioned and ventilated environment thanks to ventilation and temperature control systems. The yaks were transported in special cages designed to ensure that they were not exposed to any risk of injury during the flight and remained under veterinary supervision throughout their journey to ensure their wellbeing..

About Silk Way West Airlines

Founded in 2012 in Baku, at the heart of the Silk Road, Silk Way West Airlines operates hundreds of monthly flights across the globe via its fleet of 12 dedicated Boeing 747-8F and 747-400F aircraft based at Heydar Aliyev International Airport. On April 28, 2021, Silk Way West Airlines signed a strategic fleet expansion agreement with Boeing for the purchase of five new 777 Freighters, followed by a further agreement signed on November 10, 2022 for the purchase of two state-of-the-art 777-8 Freighters. Silk Way West Airlines also agreed the purchase of two A350 Freighters with Airbus on June 28, 2022.

The airline’s annual cargo turnover exceeds 500,000 tons, while its growing route network covers over 40 destinations across Europe, the CIS, the Middle East, Central and Eastern Asia, and the Americas.