Category Archives: Ukraine International Airlines

Ukraine International retires its last Boeing 737 Classic

On Thursday, November 8, 2018, Ukraine International Airlines’ Boeing 737-300 aircraft with registration number of UR-GBD (below), operated its final flight under Ukraine International Airlines’ call sign.

Top Copyright Photo: Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-36N UR-GAN (msn 28569) (Official Carrier National Football Teams) LGW (Antony J. Best). Image: 901106.

Above Photo: Teemu Pesonen.

Subsequently UIA’s fleet consists of 42 aircraft with the average age of 10.5 years.

UIA continues its fleet renewal program. Three Classic Generation aircraft, including two Boeing 737-300 and one Boeing 737-500 were decommissioned. And now the company’s medium haul fleet includes only New Generation Boeing 737-800 and Boeing 737-900 with an average age of 8.7 years. These planes have bigger capacity and consume less fuel per seat kilometer.

In 1992 UIA became the first Boeing 737 family operator in Ukraine and offered its passengers a new level of comfort and service. Within 26 years of UIA’s activity the company used 74 aircraft, 42 of which currently keep flying under UIA’s call sign.

Moreover UIA was the first Ukrainian airline to install winglets on its planes increasing their fuel efficiency and reducing carbon dioxide emissions into atmosphere.

This year the airline added a new type of widebody long haul aircraft for the Ukrainian market – Boeing 777-200ER. Now three such aircraft operate UIA’s flights to New York, Beijing and Bangkok. The company also operates widebody Classic Generation Boeing 767-300ER aircraft on its long haul routes which will be phased out in 2019-2020.

“The Classic Generation aircraft, UIA had started its activity in 1992, played its role. We thank them, as they were reliable planes, which let us become the airline UIA is now. – UIA Communications Director Evgeniya Satska said, – The next step to UIA’s medium haul fleet renewal will be the arrival of three Boeing 737 MAX aircraft delivery. There start to be delivered in Spring 2019”.

Note: The last Boeing 737-500 (UR-GAT) (below) was retired previously on October 12, 2018 (flight AUI172 Stockholm – Kiev).

Below Copyright Photo (all others by the airline): Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-528 UR-GAT (msn 25237) LHR (SPA). Image: 924723.

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Ukraine International updates its fleet plans, will retire the last Boeing 737 Classic

Ukraine International Airlines released this statement on its fleet plans:

On Saturday, March 17, 2018, Ukraine International Airlines enhanced its fleet with another brand new Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft that arrived at Kiev Boryspil International Airport from the Boeing facilities in Seattle.

The aircraft passed an official registration procedure in Ukraine and received the UR-UIC number. The aircraft accommodates 186 passengers in two-class seating configuration. UIA expects to operate the new Boeing 737-800 NG across its medium-haul route network. The UR-UIC started operating commercial flights on March 20 on the Kiev – Lviv route. UIA expects to receive the next brand new Boeing 737-800 NG aircraft, UR-UIВ, in late March.

In 2018, the UIA fleet will be enhanced with 4 Boeing 737 NGs, three of them will arrive right off the assembly line.

In 2018, UIA expects to receive 10 aircraft: 4 wide-body long-haul Boeing 777s, one of them is already in operation, 4 medium-haul Boeing 737-800 NGs, and 2 Embraer 195s.

In 2018, UIA will cease operating its Boeing 737 Classic aircraft (2 737-300s and one 737-500).

UIA operates 41 aircraft including 28 medium haul Boeing 737 NG aircraft with the average age of 9.4 years. Currently, UIA fleet’s total average age amounts to 11.5 years.

Copyright Photo: The pictured UR-GAT is the last UIA Boeing 737-500 still in service. Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-528 UR-GAT (msn 25237) LHR (SPA). Image: 924723.

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Ukraine International adds its first Boeing 777

Ukraine International Airlines (Kiev) on February 16, 2018 received the first out of four wide-body long-haul Boeing 777-200ER aircraft.

The aircraft passed an official registration procedure in Ukraine and received the UR-GOA registration number. Boeing 777-200ER aircraft accommodates 361 passengers in three-class seating configuration, i.e. Business Class, Premium Economy Class, and Economy Class. UIA expects to operate the UR-GOA aircraft on its long-haul routes to New York, Beijing, and Bangkok.

Leased from the world’s leading lessor AerCap, the aircraft is equipped with Panasonic Corporation individual IFE system. Every seat is equipped with personal screen with a vast content menu, including feature movies, music, and computer games. To promote Ukraine’s cinematograph, passengers of Boeing 777 will be offered a variety of Ukrainian movies. The content is available in four languages, i.e. Ukrainian, English, Chinese, and Russian.

Moreover, passengers will be able to track the aircraft in real-time mode by using the interactive touch-sensitive 3D-map with 3D globe image, 100 city guides, including 20 cities of Ukraine, Kids map – Animals App, and other information.

USB-units and electrical power sockets are installed in all cabins with Wi-Fi connectivity available during the flight.

The aircraft is equipped with Bruce Aerospace Sky Interior modern lighting system which is customized so that the lighting regime changes according to natural environment. The latter helps create a special atmosphere and add extra comfort to the passengers’ long-haul trips.

“The arrival of Boeing 777 redefines the UIA service, – noted Evgeniya Satska, UIA Communications Director. – We expect that our brand new aviation product will be highly appealing to both travelers from Ukraine and transit passengers. The latter empowers us to keep boosting transit traffic at Kiev Boryspil International Airport and developing our country’s transit potential.”

Arrival of the UR-GOA aircraft is the initial stage of the UIA long-haul fleet development. Three more fully reconfigured Boeing 777 aircraft are scheduled to arrive in Q1 – Q3 2018. Prior to reconfiguration, the aircraft will undergo heavy maintenance checks including tests and checks of all systems, key components, and units. The maintenance and reconfiguration will be performed by Air France Industries KLM Engineering and Maintenance, Amsterdam.

UIA operates 43 aircraft including 27 medium haul Boeing 737 NG aircraft. Currently, UIA fleet’s average age amounts to 11.9 years.

Copyright Photo: Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 777-28E ER 2-AERA (UR-GOA) (msn 28681) AMS (Ton Jochems). Image: 939909.

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Ukraine International to launch two new German routes

Ukraine International Airlines (Kiev) is launching two new routes to Germany in June and July. The flag carrier of the Ukraine will twice-weekly Boeing 737-800 service between Odessa and Hahn (near Frankfurt) on June 14. This will be followed by Odessa – Berlin (Schoenefeld) on July 4 according to Airline Route.

In other news, UIA received a another Boeing 737-800. The aircraft passed an official registration procedure in Ukraine and received the UR-PSZ registration number (above). The aircraft accommodates 186 passengers in two-class seating configuration. UIA expects to operate Boeing 737-800 NG across its medium-haul route network. The UR-PSZ is scheduled to start operating commercial flights in February 2018.

Produced in 2009, the UR-PSZ aircraft is leased from Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE), one of the world’s largest lessors that came seventh by fleet size in 2017.

“Finally, we have received the UR-PSZ aircraft and, therefore, collected the whole UR-PS registration series alphabet. The new aircraft is fully reconfigured to comply with UIA standards, equipped with new Business Class and Economy Class seats, as well as new catering equipment, – noted Evgeniya Satska, UIA Communications Director. – This year, we will keep enhancing and renewing our fleet, expanding our flight geography, and increasing frequencies on a number of routes. In 2018, we expect to set a record and carry as many as 8 million passengers.”

UIA operates 42 aircraft including 27 medium-haul Boeing 737 NG aircraft. Currently, UIA fleet’s average age amounts to 11.8 years.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by UIA): Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 WL UR-PSW (msn 41536) AYT (Ton Jochems). Image: 939724.

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Ukraine International to fly to Toronto, celebrates its 25th Anniversary

Ukraine International Airlines (Kiev) is coming to Canada. The flag carrier will launch Kieve (Borispil) – Toronto (Pearson) on June 6, 2018. Initially the carrier will operate the Boeing 767-300 on the route but it is also adding four Beoing 777-200 Triple Sevens (above) according to Airline Route.

On Saturday, November 25, 2017, Ukraine International turned 25. Back on November 25, 1992, UIA operated the first ever PS flight between Kiev and London. This date is considered to be the airline’s birthday.

Over the course of 25 years, UIA carried over 42 million passengers and operated approximately 400 thousand flights. The UIA aircraft covered approximately 700 million kilometers. Founded back in 1992 as an international point-to-point carrier aimed at establishing non-stop operations between Ukraine and Western Europe, in a quarter of a century UIA transformed into a large network airline with an extensive route network in America and Africa, Europe and Asia, the Middle East and the CIS countries. Currently, UIA connects Ukraine with 38 countries, operates over 1100 domestic and international scheduled flights per week on 40 aircraft, and provides connections with its international partners’ flights to over 3,000 other destinations worldwide.

In 2017, UIA received 4 Boeing 737-800 NGs, including a brand new aircraft right off the production line, enhanced flight geography up to ten Ukrainian cities, launched several new medium-haul flights, increased frequencies on a number of Western European routes, received the seventh IOSA Certificate, introduced the new check-in concept, and offered low-cost ticket fares. Within the period of January – November 2017, over 6.5 million clients flew with UIA. In 2018, UIA plans to launch non-stop scheduled flights to Toronto, Canada, and Delhi, India, as well as to offer new destinations in China.

Over the course of the following 5 years, UIA expects to expand and renew fleet, start operating long-haul wide-body Boeing 777 aircraft, actively enhance east and southeast flight vectors, increase frequencies on westbound routes, further develop a hub at Kiev Boryspil International Airport, and double the number of connecting waves. The latter empowers the carrier to equally distribute operating load and use the existing infrastructure and resources more efficiently.

Copyright Photo: Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 777-28E ER 2-AERA (UR-GOA) (msn 28681) AMS (Ton Jochems). Image: 939909.

Ukraine International is coming to Copenhagen

Ukraine International Airlines is planning to add new service to Denmark next summer with a new route linking Kiev with Copenhagen starting on April 25, 2018 per Airline Route.

Copyright Photo: Ukraine International Airlines Embraer ERJ 190-100LR UR-EME (msn 19000614) ZRH (Rolf Wallner). Image: 935415.

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.

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