Ukrainian carrier SkyUp has announced the commencement of direct flights to a range or European destinations from a new base the airline will set up in Chișinău, Moldova. The services, which will serve popular leisure destinations across Europe, are due to launch in April 2025 using the company’s fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft.
Despite Ukrainian airspace having remained closed since the country was invaded by Russian forces in February 2022, SkyUp has managed to continue operating throughout, using its aircraft on charter flights originating from bases outside of its own country and under wet-lease agreements with other carriers.
The airline has taken the decision to launch the new series of scheduled flights from Chișinău in Moldova as a way of serving those in Ukraine who still wish to travel despite the ongoing conflict. Chișinău International Airport (RMO) is located around 60 miles (90km) from the Moldovan/Ukrainian border and 370 miles (590km) from Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv.
The new flights will serve the following destinations and are already on sale via the company’s website –
Paris-Beauvais (BVA) – twice weekly (Monday and Friday),
Lisbon (LIS) – once per week (Friday)
Barcelona (BCN) – one per week (Wednesdays) increasing to three per week.
Alicante (ALC) – twice weekly (Monday, Friday)
Palma de Mallorca (PMI) – twice weekly (Wednesday, Saturday)
Larnaca (LCA) – Three times per week
Thessaloniki (SKG) – One per week (Tuesday)
Heraklion (HER) – Three times per week (Monday, Wednesday, Saturday) increasing to four times per week.
According to a statement issued by the carrier, “Although Ukrainian airspace remains closed to civilian aviation, Ukrainians have maintained their connection to the world. The demand for travel to visit relatives, maintain business relationships, diplomatic efforts, humanitarian activities, or journalistic responsibilities (continuing to inform the world about the events in Ukraine) remains strong.”
“Considering these needs and demands, we chose Chisinau Airport as one of the closest international hubs near the Ukrainian border. This makes it a practical and reliable choice for organizing international routes. We are committed to making air travel comfortable, modern, and affordable for everyone,” the statement added.
“As a Ukrainian carrier, it has not been easy since the onset of the full-scale invasion,” commented Dmytro Seroukhov, CEO of SkyUp Airlines. “To maintain our team, fleet, and operations, we had to quickly adapt to the global aviation market.”
“Today, SkyUp Airlines is an international brand with Ukrainian roots. Our hearts are always warmed when Ukrainians at airports worldwide take photos of our aircraft and share them on social media with the words ‘Because it’s home.’ We are thrilled to launch regular flights again and reconnect with our Ukrainian passengers on board. We are committed to ensuring Ukrainian aviation remains resilient and making travel easier for Ukrainians around the world,” Seroukhov concluded.
According to ch-aviation, SkyUp’s current fleet comprises seven Boeing 737 Next Generation series of jets including two 149-seat Boeing 737-700s and five 189-seat Boeing 737-800s. The company also has seven 737 MAX aircraft on order from Boeing made up of 737 MAX 7s, MAX 8s, and MAX 10s.
