News

Silk Way West Airlines, one of the fastest growing cargo carriers in the world, has confirmed a multi-year ULD (Unit Load Device) agreement with ACL Airshop, a leading international service partner for outsourced ULD management and customized logistics solutions, commencing November 1, 2017. This alliance extends the long-standing business relationship between the two companies; ACL Airshop has been a service partner with other airline units of Silk Way Holding for almost 10 years.

Silk Way West Airlines (IATA: 7L) and ACL Airshop are working together to measurably enhance the logistics efficiencies of Silk Way’s ULD fleet. ACL Airshop recently announced its own worldwide strategic alliance with CORE Transport Technologies (a New Zealand I.T. company), and the introduction of Bluetooth innovations for real-time tracking of ULDs. That, combined with ACL’s new Operations Center in Amsterdam and network-wide ULD Control programs will operate together for better utilization rates and cost efficiencies for Silk Way.

"Since we pursue a lean and agile business strategy, improved ULD logistics has become one of our strategic focuses, as it directly contributes to the bottom line while substantiating the growth of the top line," said Emile Khasanshin, Vice President Global Operations for Silk Way West Airlines. "We were looking for a company that could meet our rigorous cost expectations and flexibility requirements, demonstrate smart usage of the latest technologies as well as customer-oriented business processes. These factors along with their substantial expansion plans have cemented our careful decision to stick with ACL Airshop. And we believe the new Bluetooth-enabled ULD tracing technology will be a game changer for us both, and for our end-customers.”

“We look forward to continuing our large existing service partnership with Silk Way West Airlines, a successful and rapidly growing global cargo airline. We are proud and honored that we are able to stand out from our competitors with an efficient, cost-effective, flexible solution. We are committed to helping Silk Way West Airlines grow their global cargo network,” said Steve Townes, Chairman of ACL Airshop and CEO of its parent company.

Silk Way West Airlines, headquartered in Baku, Azerbaijan, has a growing fleet that currently consists of five Boeing 747-8F, one own and a few leased-in Boeing 747-400F aircraft. Silk Way West Airlines operates regular and charter flights to various regions of the world – Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and North America, using Heydar Aliyev International Airport, Baku, as a convenient transit hub that connects the continents.

ACL Airshop is a leader in products and services for the global air cargo industry. Over the past 34 years, ACL Airshop has become a leading worldwide one-stop-shop for leasing, sales, repair and fleet control of Unit Load Devices (“ULDs”) and cargo devices manufacturing for the aviation industry. Today, the company operates around the world on six continents and at 40 of the world’s Top 50 air cargo hub airports. One of the unique aspects of the company’s offerings is short-term rentals and leasing solutions for airlines’ cargo products requirements—that is where ACL Airshop has made its strongest reputation for custom ULD solutions.