SkyUp

SkyUp Airlines LLC is a Ukrainian charter and low-cost airline, which began its operation in May 2018.[3]

SkyUp Airlines
IATA ICAO Callsign
PQ SQP SKYUP
Founded2016
Commenced operations21 May 2018 (2018-05-21)
Operating bases
Fleet size11
Destinations55[2]
HeadquartersUkraine
Websiteskyup.aero

History

In 2016, SkyUp became a registered company in Kyiv, Ukraine. On 14 December 2017, Minister of Infrastructure Volodymyr Omelyan announced the launch of a new national private air carrier named SkyUp Airlines. The main shareholders of the company were ACS-Ukraine Ltd, Yuri Alba and Tatyana Alba, who also owned the tour operator Join UP!, which was expected to cooperate with the airline to provide charter flights for holiday packages.[4]

Ukraine evacuating Ukrainian and foreign citizens from Wuhan

Plans for the first year included concentrating on international charter flights to popular summer destinations, as well as scheduled flights within Ukraine and to several international destinations. Tickets sales were set to begin in April 2018. SkyUp also intends to cooperate with Ukraine International Airlines.[5]

The company started operations on 21 May 2018 with a flight from Kyiv-Zhuliany to Sharm El Sheikh.[6] In March 2018, SkyUp Airlines and Boeing finalised a firm order for the purchase of two Boeing 737 8 MAX and three Boeing 737 MAX 10 due to be delivered in 2023. Additionally the airline has the option to purchase another five aircraft.[7][8]

Since 2019, SkyUp has been found guilty of numerous criminal counts in Ukraine, and proven to be in violation of national and international law. These guilty verdicts resulted in their licence being suspended and fines being issued by the Anti-Monopoly Committee of Ukraine.[9] The airline was alleged to have bribed the Infrastructure Ministery of Ukraine to reinstate their licence.[10]

On 20 February 2020, one of the airline's planes was chartered by the Ukrainian government to evacuate citizens from Wuhan during the COVID-19 pandemic.[11]

In 2021 an investigation was launched by the Ukrainian government into the systemic withholding of refunds to customers for cancelled flights.

Destinations
Main article: List of SkyUp destinations

As of October 2020, SkyUp serves 33 scheduled year-round and seasonal destinations from airports in Ukraine.[2]

At its launch the airline intended to operate charter flights from both Kyiv-Boryspil and Kyiv-Zhuliany, as well as Kharkiv, Lviv, Odessa and other cities in Ukraine to a total of sixteen destinations: Alicante, Antalya, Barcelona, Bodrum, Burgas, Dalaman, Dubai, Hurghada, Larnaca, Palma de Mallorca, Nice, Rimini, Sharm El Sheikh, Tenerife, Tivat, Tel Aviv and Varna.[12] Following the launch of the charter operations, the airline planned to commence domestic services from Odessa to Kyiv, Kharkiv and Lviv in late May or early June 2018. The airline also intended to operate international services from Kyiv to Barcelona, Dubai and Larnaca.[5][12]

In February 2019, the airline announced it would be moving its main base from the Zhuliany to Boryspil from the beginning on the summer schedule. The airline said that the decision to change the home airport was made due to restrictions on the operation of aircraft at Zhuliany Airport.[13]

Fleet
SkyUp Boeing 737-700

As of October 2019, SkyUp Airlines operates the following aircraft:[14]

SkyUp Airlines fleet
Aircraft In service Orders Passengers Notes
Boeing 737-700 2 — 149 One in the livery of FC Shakhtar[15]
Boeing 737-800 6 — 189
Boeing 737-900ER 3 1 215 Two more to be acquired[16]
Boeing 737 MAX 8 — 4[7] TBA Grounded until further notice
Boeing 737 MAX 10 — 3[7] TBA Grounded until further notice
Total 11 8

See also

References
  1. "Ukraine's SkyUp launches Kharkiv base, mulls Cherkasy". ch-aviation.com/. 6 March 2019.
  2. skyup.aero - All flights retrieved 10 October 2020
  3. "SkyUp". centreforaviation.com. 24 March 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  4. "From Kyiv to Odessa for 500 UAH - in March 2018, Ukrainian Lowestoft SkyUp will work". tokar.ua. 28 December 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  5. "Ukraine's SkyUp to launch in April 2018". ch-aviation.com. 15 December 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  6. "Ukrainian Airline SkyUp Performs First Flight". cfts.org.ua. 23 May 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  7. "Ukraine's SkyUp orders 5+5 B737 MAX; to launch in early 2Q18". ch-aviation.com. 21 March 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  8. "Boeing, SkyUp Airlines Finalize Order for Five 737 MAX Airplanes". ch-aviation.com. 20 March 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  9. https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/news-schemes-pozyvachka-do-skyup/30071410.html
  10. https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-economy/2719898-ukrainian-infrastructure-minister-omelyan-license-of-skyup-airlines-suspended-illegally.html
  11. https://dpsu.gov.ua/ua/news/U-Harkovi-prikordonniki-zabezpechili-oformlennya-evakuyovanih-z-KNR-gromadyan/
  12. "New airline SkyUp to start operating from April 2018". interfax.com.ua. 14 December 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  13. "Ukraine's SkyUP to move from Zhuliany to Boryspil Airport". 112.international. 28 February 2019.
  14. "OUR FLEET". skyup.aero.
  15. iSport.ua (2019-04-09). "Шахтер показал самолет в фирменной ливрее в цветах клуба". iSport.ua. Retrieved 2019-07-27.
  16. "Ukraine's SkyUp Airlines to add B737-900s". ch-aviation.com. 2019-09-23. Retrieved 2019-09-23.

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