Ukraine International Airlines facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Ukraine International Airlines (UIA)
Міжнародні Авіалінії України (МАУ)

UIA 737-800 in standard livery
Founded	29 October 1992
Commenced operations	1994
Ceased operations	30 October 2023 (temporarily)
Hubs	Kyiv–Boryspil
Frequent-flyer program	Panorama Club
Fleet size	11
Destinations	80+ (before the war in 2022)
Parent company	Capital Investment Project LLC (74%)
Headquarters	Kyiv, Ukraine
Key people	Kyryl Zvonarov, President

Ukraine International Airlines, often called UIA, is the largest airline in Ukraine. Its main office is in Kyiv, and its main hub was Boryspil International Airport.

UIA used to fly passengers and cargo to many places. These included Europe, the Middle East, the United States, Canada, and Asia. However, because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, all flights stopped. The airline is not flying until the war ends and planes can safely fly in Ukraine again.

History of UIA

How UIA Started

A Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-200 in 1998

UIA was created in 1992. It was meant to be a new airline for Ukraine. Before this, Ukraine's airline was part of the Soviet Union's airline system. After the Soviet Union broke up, Ukraine wanted its own modern airline.

In 1992, Ukraine agreed to rent two Boeing 737-400 planes. These planes came from an Irish company called Guinness Peat Aviation (GPA). The goal was to create an airline that met international safety and service standards.

UIA started its first flight from Kyiv to London on November 25, 1992. Soon after, it added flights to cities like Berlin, Paris, and Amsterdam. UIA was one of the first companies in Ukraine to work with foreign partners. It was also the first airline in the former Soviet Union to use the new Boeing 737-400 planes.

In 1994, UIA began carrying cargo (goods) on a Boeing 737-200. Later, in 1996, Austrian Airlines and Swissair became part owners of UIA. In 2000, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development also invested in the airline.

Changes Since 2013

Ukraine International Airlines' first Boeing 777-200ER delivered in February 2018

A former Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-300 which was retired in 2019

In 2013, many more people chose to fly with UIA. The number of passengers grew by 60%. UIA also started new flights to many cities. These included Baku, Yerevan, Munich, Warsaw, and New York City.

In 2015, the Russian government stopped UIA from flying to Russia. This was because Ukraine had banned Russian airlines from flying into Ukraine. This happened after Russia took over Crimea in 2014.

UIA also changed how it charged for luggage. Since 2016, many international flights only included carry-on bags. Passengers had to pay extra for checked luggage.

In 2018, UIA planned to update its fleet of planes. It received new Boeing 777-200ERs and expected new Boeing 737 and Embraer 195 aircraft. These new planes would replace older models.

Flights Stopped

When the Russian invasion of Ukraine started in February 2022, Ukraine closed its airspace. This meant no civilian planes could fly. Because of this, Ukraine International Airlines had to stop all its flights.

The airline hoped to restart flights soon, but the suspension kept getting extended. As of July 2023, flights are still stopped. They will not start again until the war ends and Ukraine's airspace is safe for planes. Many of UIA's planes are currently stored at an airport in Spain.

In 2023, the company faced financial difficulties. Some of its assets, like its trademarks, were sold. In 2024, Ukrainian tax authorities also took control of seven of the airline's planes.

About the Company

Who Owns UIA

In 2011, the Ukrainian government sold its share of UIA. Now, the airline is mostly owned by a Ukrainian company called Capital Investment Project LLC (74%). A company from Cyprus, Ontobet Promotions Limited, owns the rest (26%).

Places UIA Flew To

Before flights stopped, UIA connected Ukraine to over 80 cities. These were in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. It also flew to New York City and Toronto from Boryspil International Airport. UIA also had flights within Ukraine.

UIA was known for its low fares on many flights. This made it a popular choice for travelers. However, due to financial challenges, UIA had to stop flights to some cities. These included Amman, Riga, Beijing, and Minsk in 2019. Flights to Bangkok and Krakow also stopped in 2020. All flights stopped completely after the 2022 Russian invasion.

Partner Airlines

Ukraine International Airlines had agreements with other airlines. These are called codeshare agreements. They allowed passengers to book flights with UIA but fly on a partner airline's plane. This made it easier to travel to more places.

• Air Astana
• Air France
• Air Moldova
• airBaltic
• Austrian Airlines
• Azerbaijan Airlines
• EgyptAir
• Iberia
• KLM
• TAP Air Portugal
• Turkish Airlines

UIA's Fleet of Planes

UIA Boeing 737-800

UIA Boeing 767-300ER

UIA Embraer E190

Current Planes

As of 2024, Ukraine International Airlines has these planes:

Planes UIA Used to Have

Ukraine International Airlines used to have these planes:

Accidents

UR-PSR, the aircraft that was shot down as Flight 752

On January 8, 2020, Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was shot down. This happened shortly after it took off from Tehran, Iran. The Iranian military said it was a human error. The plane was a Boeing 737-800. All 167 passengers and 9 crew members on board died. This was the first and only fatal accident in UIA's history.

See also

In Spanish: Ukraine International Airlines para niños

• List of airlines of Ukraine
• Transport in Ukraine