As we begin to slowly move away from the harsh realities of winter, Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) has announced in a statement seen by Simple Flying that it plans to ramp up the number of flights. The Boryspil International Airport-based airline says that it will slowly rebuild its network starting from March 1. While still operating daily flights, UIA suspended some routes and cut frequencies due to the medical emergency.
In particular, Ukraine's national flag carrier plans to restore flights that were canceled due to COVID-19 quarantine restrictions and increase the frequency of flights to its most popular destinations. Starting the beginning of March, UIA will resume flights from Kyiv to Geneva, Switzerland, and Prague in the Czech Republic.
Suspended routes will return
Flights from Boryspil International Airport (KBP) to Barcelona, Spain, Larnaca, Cyprus, Vilnius, Lithuania, and Chisinau, Moldova, will also return before the end of March. Odesa International Airport (ODS) will also see an increase in flights from Ukraine's third-largest city to Istanbul Airport (IST). By May 2021, UIA will be operating 21 flights per week from Ukrainian cities to Istanbul, Turkey.
Direct flights between Kyiv and Dubai International Airport will increase frequencies, with six weekly flights starting from May 2021.
Additionally, Ukraine International Airlines will operate flights on the following routes:
- Kyiv (KBP) - Delhi (DEL) - Kyiv (KBP) - 25.02, 05.03, 13.03, 18.03
- Kyiv (KBP) - Tashkent (TAS) - Kyiv (KBP) - 28.02, 10.03, 21.03, 31.03. Return flight the next day.
In March, the airline will increase the frequency of flights to daily (seven times a week) on the following routes:
- Kyiv (KBP) - Amsterdam (AMS) - Kyiv (KBP)
- Kyiv (KBP) - Paris (CDG) - Kyiv (KBP)
- Kyiv (KBP) - Milan (MXP) - Kyiv (KBP)
- Kyiv (KBP) - Tbilisi (TBS) - Kyiv (KBP)
- Kyiv (KBP) - Yerevan (EVN) - Kyiv (KBP)
- Kyiv (KBP) - Tel Aviv (TLV) - Kyiv (KBP) - (11 frequencies with the beginning of summer navigation. Starting from May, 14 flights per week).
UIA spring sale
To celebrate springtime and the return of routes suspended due to the coronavirus, UIA has announced special discounted airfares on sale from February 22, 2021, until March 1, 2021. Discounts will range between 20% and 50% on tickets to many of UIA's popular destinations. You can learn more about the UIA spring sale by visiting the airline's official website.
Unique flight over Kyiv
In other UIA news, the companies' move to generate additional revenue with sightseeing flights to nowhere has paid off big. The demand for tickets for the unique flight surpassed all UIA expectations and now has them planing for a second flight. The flight scheduled for March 7 will be aboard a Brazilian-built Embraer 195. The aircraft will fly at an altitude of 900 meters (2,952 feet), giving passengers a spectacular view as they head up the Dnieper River to the abandoned Chernobyl nuclear power station.
Stay informed: Sign up for our daily aviation news digest.
When talking about the demand for the flight in a UIA statement, the head of the “Flight over Kyiv” project, Bogdan Skotnykov, said:
“Aviation has always been fascinating. For us, this is a sign that everyone missed flights and the sky, just like we do. Also, for us, employees of the airline, this is a signal that the behind the scenes of aviation is very interesting for our passengers."
Along with the flight, passengers will receive the following:
- A tour of Boeing 777 on the apron of the Boryspil Airport
- A photo in the cockpit
- A selfie with the pilot
- A drawing of souvenirs and gifts
Passengers will also be able to ask UIA pilots about their jobs and the aircraft they fly. A second flight is now scheduled for March 13, 2021.
It is nice to see that UIA plans to increase the number of its flights. Let's hope that other airlines do the same as we all look to return to how life was before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Have you ever flown with UIA? If so, please tell us what you thought of them in the comments.