CJSC Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) (Ukrainian: Закрите акціонерне товариство «Авіакомпанія Міжнародні Авіалінії України» (МАУ), Aviakompaniya Mizhnarodni Avialiniyi Ukrayiny, [ˌɑwijɑkɔmˈpɑɲijɑ miʒnɑˈrɔdni ˌɑwijɑˈʎiɲji ukrɑˈjɪnɪ]) is one of the flag carriers of Ukraine, based in Kiev.[1] It operates scheduled domestic and international passenger and cargo services to cities in western Europe. Its main base is Boryspil International Airport (KBP).
Out of the 5-star ranking, Ukraine International Airlines holds a 2-star ranking from Skytrax[2].
[edit] History
The airline was established on 1 October 1992, and started operations on 25 November 1992. It was one of the first joint ventures with foreign capital in Ukraine and was the first airline in the CIS to introduce new Boeing 737 aircraft. The founding shareholders were the Ukrainian Association of Civil Aviation and Guinness Peat Aviation (GPA), an Irish aircraft-leasing company. In 1996, Austrian Airlines and Swissair became shareholders, investing US$9 million in new equity. In 2000, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development became a shareholder by investing $5.4 million. In February 2011 Ukrainian government sold its 61,6% stake in UIA to three existing minority shareholders for Hr.287 million ($36.2 million). Currently, the airline is owned by UIA Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH (59%), UIA Holding (26%), and Capital Investment Project (15%).
Its growth plans that included expansion into Eastern Europe and North America were brought to a halt by a rapid expansion of its domestic rival, private Aerosvit Airlines. As the routes it was intending to introduce had already been taken up by its more aggressive competitor, Ukraine International has had to concentrate on its core Western European destinations.
[edit] Destinations
UIA flies to Asia, Europe and Middle east from its base at Kiev Boryspil Airport as well as operating domestic flights in Ukraine.
[edit] Codeshare agreements
Ukraine International Airlines has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:
As of January 2012, the Ukraine International Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft with an average age of 14.3 years:[4]
[edit] Additional information
- According to the Boeing Company statistics, UIA is the only airline in the CIS which performs full technical maintenance for its own fleet. UIA Technical Division also provides this service to other Ukrainian and international airlines.
- Ukrainian Tourist Agencies’ Survey and Ukrainian Journalists Association repeatedly awarded UIA in the following nominations: “Best Sales Airline in Ukraine”, “Best Ukrainian Airline”, “Best Ukrainian Air Carrier” and more.
- On the 2001 Papal visit to Ukraine, UIA was the official carrier of His Holiness Pope John Paul II. Also in 2008, UIA was an official carrier for His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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Asia-Pacific regional office
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China and North Asia regional office
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Latin America and the Caribbean regional office
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Middle East and North Africa regional office
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North America regional office
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Russia and the CIS regional office
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Kiev, Ukraine
