Category Archives: Ukraine International Airlines

Ukraine International to start new routes to Riga and Minsk

Ukraine International Airlines-UIA (Kiev) has announced it will connect Kiev with Riga and Minsk with Boeing 737 aircraft starting on March 30, 2015.

The Kiev – Riga – Kiev routing (PS 185/186) will be operated five times per week on weekdays.

Starting on April 20 and through October 25, 2015, the Kiev – Minsk – Kiev flights (PS 891/892) will be operated seven times per week.

Moreover, in summer 2015 UIA plans to launch nonstop scheduled flights from Kiev to Amman, Jordan.

Ukraine International Airlines in the summer 2015 season is also introducing Kiev – Beijing service, on board Boeing 767 aircraft. Service begins on April 29, 2015 with two weekly flights, while the third weekly flight will be added on May 10, 2015.

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. UIA’s Boeing 737-94X ER UR-PSK (msn 36086) in the Sky Airlines colors pushes back at Antalya.

Ukraine International aircraft slide show:

Aeroflot and Transaero must obtain prior approval to fly over the Ukraine

The Ukrainian government (Kiev) is taking countermeasures after Russia banned Ukrainian airlines from flying over Russian airspace, severely impacting Ukrainian International Airlines (Kiev) as previously reported.

According to the Moscow Times, “Ukraine demanded that Russian airlines Aeroflot Russian Airlines (Moscow) and Transaero Airlines (Moscow) obtain permission for every flight they make over its territory, because these airlines fly over Crimean airspace which Ukraine considers to be closed.”

The new airspace rule became effective on August 14.

European airlines could face additional airspace restrictions by Russia on trans-Siberian routes following sanctions by the European Union of Russian due to its on-going interference in the Ukraine. If this “airspace war” continues to escalate, airlines like Finnair (Helsinki) could be severely impacted as previously reported.

Ironically Russia and the Ukraine were former members of the old Soviet Union.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

In other news, Transaero is planning to introduce a weekly St. Petersburg-Vienna route (flown with Boeing 737-300s) starting on October 31.

Copyright Photo: Paul Denton/AirlinersGallery.com. Aeroflot’s Boeing 737-8LJ VP-BRF (msn 41195) completes its final approach to Dubai International Airport (DXB).

Aeroflot Russian Airlines:

Transaero Airlines:

Ukraine International is forced to reroute flights around Russia

Ukraine International Airlines-UIA (Kiev) and other other Ukrainian airline have been banned by Russia from using Russian airspace in retaliation to sanctions by the European Union due to the on-going conflict between Russian-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine and the military of the Ukraine. Russia is reportedly considering restrictions on other European airlines for their trans-Siberian flights after Aeroflot’s subsidiary Dobrolet (2nd) (Moscow) was grounded by EU sanctions due to the Ukrainian conflict.

The airline issued this statement:

UIA is deeply concerned with destructive actions of the Russian authorities and their controversial stand on transit flights of Ukrainian airlines banned from transit over the Russian territory.

Russia’s unilateral actions of banning flights force UIA to significantly lengthen its air routes from Ukraine to the East. This will lead to increase in operating costs by 15-20%, as well as to flight delays, which will cause significant discomfort to passengers.

According to the Main Air Traffic Management Center of the Unified Air Traffic Management System of the Russian Federation, the Russian authorities refuse processing UIA’s application to perform flights from Kiev to Kazakhstan, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan through permitted entry points to the airspace of the Russian Federation.

UIA informs that it is forced to operate flights on lengthened routes, and expresses apologies to all of its passengers and partners for the discomfort caused due to a fault of the Russian authorities.

The company is deeply concerned about the fact that the Russian authorities are trying to use air transport as a tool for political pressure, cynically ignoring the interests of thousands of citizens from dozens of countries being the UIA passengers.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Former United Airlines Boeing 767-322 ER UR-GEA (msn 25280) arrives in Bangkok.

Ukraine International:

Ukraine International starts Kiev-Tehran flights, will cut its fleet by 25%

Ukraine International Airlines-UIA (Kiev) on June 3 launched nonstop scheduled flights connecting the capitals of the Ukraine and Iran – Kiev and Tehran. Flights connecting Kiev and Tehran will be operated three times a week: outbound – on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays; inbound – on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

All flights will be operated on Boeing 737 aircraft in two-class cabin configuration – Business and Economy.

In other news, due to on-going turmoil in the Ukraine, especially in the eastern Russian-speaking areas, the flag carrier will cut its capacity and will reduce its fleet by 25 percent according to CAPA.

Copyright Photo: Rolf Wallner/AirlinersGallery.com. The older Boeing 737s including the pictured Boeing 737-5Y0 UR-GAK (msn 26075) at Zurich, are likely to be the first to be phased out by the downsizing GIA.

Ukraine International Airlines:

Ukraine International Airlines decreases the number of flights due to the current political crisis

Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) (Kiev) has decreased the number of flights operated each week from 343 to 305 due to the on-going political crisis in the Ukraine. The country is split along east (pro Russian) and west (pro European Union) areas of the country and whether it wants the country to be aligned with the European Union or the Russian Federation (the Ukraine was once part of the old Soviet Union). The two groups have been clashing in often violent rallies in various parts of the country. Now Russian President Vladimir Putin has put its armed forces in western Russia “on alert” according to the The Telegraph (so much for the recent “Olympic Spirit”). Despite this background of violence and tension, Ukraine International Airlines is planning to expand operations on April 1.

Read the full story from The Telegraph: CLICK HERE

The airline issued this statement:

As a result of social and political crisis in Ukraine the travel activity to/from Ukraine has leveled off.

Decline in demand for business and tourist trips affected advanced ticket reservations to Ukraine in February and March. This fact forces the airline to optimize flight program by decreasing frequency on certain routes within the period of February 24 –through March 29, 2014. Thus, the number of UIA-coded services is decreased from 343 to 305 scheduled flights per week. Due to well-developed partner network, UIA clients are offered alternative routes both on UIA-coded and partner airlines` flights.

As soon as the demand for air transportation is back to normal, UIA will increase the flight frequency quickly and efficiently to regenerate the previously scheduled traffic performance.

Starting on April 1, 2014, UIA plans to increase frequencies, offer new routes, and operate seasonal flights. Ticket sales for UIA new routes: Kiev – Chisinau, Kiev – Minsk, Kiev – Dushanbe, Kiev – New York, as well as additional flights to London, Barcelona and summer seasonal flights to Nice are already open.

Copyright Photo: Paul Denton/AirlinersGallery.com. Embraer ERJ 190-100LR UE-EME (msn 19000614) of Ukraine International Airlines arrives in Geneva.

Ukraine International Airlines:

Ukraine International to launch service to New York (JFK) on April 25

Ukraine International Airlines (Kiev) despite the current political turmoil in the Ukraine, will launch its first ever nonstop service from Kiev (Boryspil International airport) to New York (John Kennedy International Airport) on April 25, 2014. Starting June 23, 2014, Kiev – New York nonstop scheduled flights will be operated daily.

Flight schedule :

Flight	Destination	Days	Departure *	Arrival*
PS231	Kiev – New York	1234567	11:00	14:20
PS232	New York – Kiev	1234567	00:30	17:20

*Local time

The new route will be operated with Boeing 767-300 aircraft in a three-class cabin layout – Business, Premium Economy, and Economy.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. UIA’s ex-United Boeing 767-322 ER UR-GEA (msn 25280) arrives in Bangkok.

Ukraine International Airlines:

Ukraine International to start Bangkok service on December 7 and Stockholm service on June 1, 2014

Ukraine International Airlines-UIA (Kiev) will commence service between its Kiev hub and Stockholm (Arlanda) starting on June 1, 2014. The daily flight will be operated with new Embraer 190s.

Additionally, starting on December 7, 2013, UIA launches its first ever long-haul flights from Kiev to Bangkok. Nonstop scheduled flights will be operated three days a week on Boeing 767-300 aircraft in a three-class cabin layout: business, premium economy, and economy.

The airline continues to develop its “ski” destinations network by offering nonstop flights to Sofia (Bulgaria) and Salzburg (Austria), Erzurum (Turkey) and Grenoble (France), Kittila and Kajaani (Finland), as well as providing all passengers with an opportunity to carry one set of ski equipment free of charge.

UIA traditionally expands travel options` selection for the residents of the cities of Ukraine. In winter UIA nonstop flights will connect Donetsk, Odessa, and Kharkov with the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia, Donetsk and Odessa with Sharm El Sheikh, as well as Lvov, Zaporozhia and Kharkov with Hurghada.

Moreover, UIA has a special offer for winter sports fans: in February 2014 the leading Ukrainian carrier will operate nonstop daily (February 6 and 24 double-daily) flights between the capital of Ukraine and the capital of the 2014 Winter Olympics – the city of Sochi.

UIA turns 21.