SkyUp Airlines — one of Ukraine’s most successful airlines. How did it preserve and expand its business during the war? Interview

• SkyUp Airlines employs 354 flight attendants and 168 pilots.
• Since spring 2022, SkyUp has been operating in the ACMI sector. Under ACMI contracts, the airline leases out 10 medium-haul Boeing 737 aircraft, with an average age of 14 years.
• In 2024, SkyUp Airlines completed 10,153 flights.

Even before February 24, 2022, 10 out of 11 SkyUp aircraft were based in Europe. Did you foresee the events, or was it simply a lucky coincidence?

Before the start of the full-scale invasion, insurance companies had warned Ukrainian carriers that if a war broke out, no one would continue insuring aircraft remaining in Ukraine. That’s why our planes were already based abroad and only flew into Ukraine for short routes. We took the bold step of changing our flight schedule. It was a bit inconvenient for passengers, since they departed from airports outside Ukraine. But that decision saved our fleet. When the skies were closed, 10 out of 11 aircraft were already abroad. Only one remained at Boryspil Airport. On the day of the invasion, it took off for Chișinău but was ordered to return. And only in April 2023 were we finally able to evacuate it.

How did you manage to evacuate the aircraft if the skies over Ukraine were already closed?

It was a planned operation involving the government, the military, and Boryspil Airport. We can’t share the details, but I hope we’ll be able to tell the full story after the war. After arriving in Romania, the aircraft underwent maintenance, received all the necessary clearances, and is now in operation.

Passenger traffic in 2022 fell by more than half. “Wet leasing” helped. Can you tell us more about that?

After the Covid pandemic, demand for air travel surged, but there was a shortage of aircraft and personnel. After the start of the full-scale invasion, we realized this was our opportunity to develop the ACMI segment — leasing aircraft to other airlines along with the crew, maintenance, and insurance. We also wanted to preserve both the company and its Ukrainian aviation personnel. That’s why, in April 2022, we had already begun operating under ACMI contracts. This move allowed us to establish a foothold in the EU.

Which companies did you start working with at that time?

In 2022, we partnered with several airlines: Wizz Air, Corendon Airlines, and ETF.

So the war essentially rebooted SkyUp’s business model?

From the very beginning, we operated under a hybrid model, offering both charter and scheduled flights from Ukraine. When we entered the European market, SkyUp became an “ultra-hybrid” carrier: we launched the ACMI segment and expanded charter flights for European tour operators. We have now returned to a low-cost model, with scheduled flights from our new base in Chișinău. By summer 2026, we plan to develop a full network of flights across the EU. Currently, we operate 14 routes. In the future, we aim to enter the US and Canadian markets — the necessary permits are already in place.

Why did you choose Chișinău as your first base for scheduled flights?

We chose Chișinău because it is one of the closest airports to the border. It is easy to reach for people living in the north, centre, or south of Ukraine. This summer, we also launched scheduled flights from airports in Poland and Romania (Warsaw, Katowice, Bucharest, and Cluj).

Looking at SkyUp’s development from 2018 to 2025, could you highlight the main stages?

When the pandemic began, we operated humanitarian and cargo flights while also opening new travel routes. In 2021, SkyUp became the second-largest airline in Ukraine by passenger numbers and received an award from the Tourism Association, “Heart of the Ukrainian Airspace.” We even changed the flight attendants’ uniforms: instead of heels, they now wear sneakers and modern suits to make working easier and more comfortable.

After the start of the full-scale war, we focused on evacuation and humanitarian flights. SkyUp joined the presidential initiative UNITED24, raising €10,000 for medical needs. We began operating charter flights across Europe and selling tickets for scheduled flights. Over the past three years, SkyUp has obtained a license to operate flights in Europe and certifications that allow it to operate in the US and Canada.

You announced two more bases in Eastern Europe. Can you explain the reasoning behind your choices? Are you targeting the Ukrainian diaspora or a broader market?

We are focusing on demand, which is partly driven by the Ukrainian diaspora. We also want to preserve Ukrainian aviation personnel.

Is the EU still facing a crisis of aircraft and personnel after the pandemic?

Yes, this is what opens new opportunities for us, especially for developing the ACMI segment. After the pandemic, it became clear that there are problems with engine and parts production and delivery, which also influenced the market.

What’s unique about SkyUp’s service that you don’t find at large European airlines?

Our support team is operational at all times, even in difficult situations. There’s a dedicated service for partners. For Ukrainian passengers, it’s important to be spoken to in their native language and for their onboard meal preferences to be taken into account. We try to accommodate individual requests — a transfer to another flight or changes to a booking. If something goes wrong, we apologize and resolve the issue quickly. There have been cases when, if a menu item ran out on board, the crew would give their own to make sure everyone was satisfied.

Let me share an example from a charter flight from Larnaca to Rzeszów in 2023. Passengers were flying to a funeral and were running late for the flight. Normally, a charter flight doesn’t wait for a few passengers, but a call centre employee heard the request and did everything possible to ensure the plane departed with those passengers on board. The flight was delayed by an hour. For us, there are things more important than money.

Which routes are currently the most profitable for you?

As of August 2025, our most profitable routes are Chișinău–Heraklion, Chișinău–Palma de Mallorca, Chișinău–Thessaloniki, and Chișinău–Nice. These are our four most profitable routes.

Is SkyUp considering partnership alliances with European low-cost or traditional carriers?

In 2025, we signed an agreement with Vision Air in Moldova that allows us to sell tickets under our own brand for its flights. Over time, we plan to build additional partnerships.

Do you face any barriers or bias from EU regulators as a Ukrainian company trying to enter the European market?

After February 2022, Ukrainian airlines lost the right to operate flights to Europe. As a carrier certified in Ukraine, we could only operate flights from or to Ukraine — and when the airspace is closed, that’s impossible. The only way forward was to obtain certification as a European carrier. That’s why our Maltese branch, SkyUp MT, was created.

What was needed to achieve that?

Requirements differ from country to country. For example, a regulator may require an airline to operate only domestic flights for several years or maintain a specific number of aircraft. There are also strict criteria for fleet maintenance and crew training. These certificates can’t be bought.

If Ukraine’s airspace were to reopen tomorrow, what would SkyUp do?

We have one goal and a dream — to become the first airline to return to Ukrainian skies. That’s why we will immediately begin restoring scheduled flights from our home airports. However, the pace will depend on the state of the infrastructure.

And if the war continues for an indefinite period?

In any scenario, we will continue to grow our business both in Europe and in Ukraine. Our head office remains in Kyiv, but we also have offices in Malta, Chișinău, and Warsaw.

Which departments operate in SkyUp’s international offices?

Marketing, sales, the call center, and legal teams remain in Kyiv. In international offices — for example, in Malta — administration and directors work on-site, overseeing certification and supporting operations. Many employees also work remotely to help maintain the company’s ongoing operations.

Who are SkyUp’s key partners?

These include lessors and insurance companies, airports, and tourism boards in various countries. We also work with distributors and agents worldwide to make our tickets available across multiple markets.

We do not disclose the names of our lessors or insurance partners, but we can name our key clients and strategic partners. These are the football club Shakhtar, the Ukraine national football team, Join UP! as a strategic charter partner, tour operators Alfa, Kompas, and TUI, as well as the airports we operate flights to. Some airports have become true friends to us. For example, Beauvais Airport, which we collaborated with even before the full-scale invasion, promotes us as a carrier in the French market.

Among our first partners was Ukrzaliznytsia with its “Iron Friends” loyalty program. We also launched a collaboration with Visa through monobank.

How often does an aircraft need maintenance to stay safe?

Each of our aircraft undergoes scheduled maintenance checks. This affects not only flight safety but also the aircraft’s service life, which is typically more than 14 years.

Do you ever experience force majeure situations?

Yes, but they account for only about 2% of all flights. Sometimes force majeure occurs at the airport itself, for example, due to a flight delay. Often, the airline cannot provide an exact departure time because maintenance checks can sometimes take hours. We inspect the damage and assess how long repairs will take. If the repairs take longer than expected, we can bring in an aircraft from another base or route, and in emergency situations, we may even lease a plane from another airline to avoid cancelling the flight.

Does the company reduce carbon dioxide emissions? Are you moving toward “green” flights?

SkyUp aircraft have special upward-curving wingtip devices — winglets — at the ends of their wings. These help the wings cut through the air more efficiently, reducing fuel consumption by 5% and lowering emissions. There are also eco-initiatives: for example, the Ukrainian brand VERETA makes accessories from our flight attendants’ uniforms, and 30% of the proceeds from each item go to LEVCHYK SPECTRUM HUB to fund therapy sessions for children on the autism spectrum. In total, we have raised 34,200 hryvnias.