Ukraine International Airlines facts for kids

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

Founded	1 October 1992
Commenced operations	1994
Ceased operations	24 February 2022 (only temporarily until the end of the war)
Hubs	Kyiv–Boryspil
Frequent-flyer program	Panorama Club
Fleet size	11
Destinations	80+ (Before war in 2022) 0 (Due to Russo-Ukrainian war)
Parent company	Capital Investment Project LLC (74%)
Headquarters	Kyiv, Ukraine
Key people	Yevhenii Dykhne, President

Ukraine International Airlines, often called UIA, is the largest airline in Ukraine. It's like the country's main airline, with its main office in Kyiv. Its biggest airport hub is Boryspil International Airport near Kyiv.

Before the war in 2022, UIA flew passengers and cargo to many places. These included cities in Europe, the Middle East, the United States, Canada, and Asia. However, because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, all flights have been stopped. The airline is not flying until the war ends and it's safe for planes to fly in Ukraine again.

A Look at UIA's History

How UIA Started

A Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-200 in 1998

UIA was created in 1992. It was meant to be a new, modern airline for Ukraine. Before this, Ukraine had an airline that was part of the old Soviet system. When the Soviet Union broke up, Ukraine wanted its own airline that met international standards.

In 1992, Ukraine's aviation minister made a deal to rent two Boeing 737-400 planes. These planes came from an Irish company called Guinness Peat Aviation (GPA). The goal was to start a new airline that was safe and offered good service.

The first UIA flight took off on November 25, 1992, flying from Kyiv to London. Soon after, UIA started flying to other big European cities. These included Berlin, Paris, Frankfurt, Vienna, 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 newer Boeing 737-400 planes.

In 1994, UIA started carrying cargo (goods) with a Boeing 737-200 plane. Later, in 1996, other airlines like Austrian Airlines and Swissair invested money in UIA. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development also became a shareholder in 2000.

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, UIA saw a big increase in passengers. The number of people flying with them went up by 60%. This was partly because another airline, Aerosvit, stopped flying. UIA then took over many of its routes.

UIA started new flights to many cities. These included places like Baku, Yerevan, Munich, Warsaw, and even New York City in the United States.

In 2015, the Russian government stopped UIA from flying to Russia. This happened after Ukraine banned Russian airlines from flying into Ukraine.

From 2016, UIA changed how it sold tickets for international flights. Many tickets only included "hand luggage." If passengers wanted to check in a suitcase, they had to pay extra fees.

In 2018, UIA announced plans to update its fleet of planes. They started getting newer Boeing 777-200ERs and more Boeing 737 and Embraer 195 aircraft. These new planes replaced older models.

In 2021, UIA planned to add two larger Boeing 777-300 planes, mainly for special charter flights.

When the Russian invasion of Ukraine started in February 2022, Ukraine's airspace was closed. This meant UIA had to stop all its flights. The airline has kept extending this suspension. As of now, flights are stopped until the war ends and it's safe to fly in Ukraine again.

Who Owns UIA?

In 2011, the Ukrainian government sold its share of UIA to other owners. Today, the airline is mainly owned by a Ukrainian company called Capital Investment Project LLC. Another company, Ontobet Promotions Limited from Cyprus, also owns a part of it.

Like many airlines, UIA has faced financial challenges. The company has sometimes lost money, especially when there is a lot of competition from other airlines.

In 2019, Yevhenii Dykhne became the new president of UIA. He took over from Yuri Miroshnikov, who had led the airline for many years.

Where UIA Flew

UIA used to connect Ukraine to over 80 places in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. They also had flights to New York City and Toronto. Their main base was Boryspil International Airport. They also flew within Ukraine.

Even though UIA was not officially a budget airline, many travelers chose them because of their lower prices. They used Boryspil Airport as a major connecting point for flights.

However, due to financial difficulties, UIA stopped flights to some cities in 2019 and 2020. These included Amman, Riga, Beijing, Minsk, Bangkok, and Krakow. As mentioned, all flights stopped completely after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Sharing Flights with Other Airlines

UIA had agreements with other airlines called codeshare agreements. This means they could sell tickets on flights operated by other airlines, and vice versa. It helps passengers connect to more places.

Here are some of the airlines UIA had codeshare agreements with:

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

UIA's Fleet of Planes

Current Planes

UIA Boeing 737-800

UIA Boeing 767-300ER

As of July 2023, Ukraine International Airlines has 11 planes. Most of these planes are currently parked at Kyiv Boryspil Airport because flights are suspended. One Embraer 190 is parked in Odessa.

Past Planes UIA Used

Over the years, UIA has used different types of planes. Here are some of the aircraft that were part of their fleet in the past:

Important Event: 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 later said it was a mistake caused by human error.

The plane was a Boeing 737-800. All 176 people on board, including passengers and crew, sadly did not survive. This was the first time UIA had a fatal accident since it started flying in 1992.

See also

In Spanish: Ukraine International Airlines para niños

• List of airlines of Ukraine
• Transport in Ukraine