SkyUp MT — the Maltese business unit of Ukrainian airline SkyUp — has been allocated slots in Warsaw’s Chopin airport for the Summer 2024 season. The information was revealed on the airport’s Initial Coordination Report for the season, made available by slot coordinator ACL.
The airline, which currently operates two aircraft on ACMI and charter flights, has stated during the course of the year that it intends to start its own regular operations by 2024. Its Maltese air operator certificate (AOC) was granted in May. As Malta is a member of the European Union, a local AOC gives SkyUp almost limitless possibilities when flying from two points within the Union.
According to the ACL report, the airline was granted 838 movements in the airport for the IATA S24 season (versus zero in the same period of 2023). A slot allocation does not necessarily mean the airline will make use of it, although having the slot is generally required for a flight to happen.
The airline was also allocated 478 movements in Poznań, also in Poland, according to that airport’s Initial Coordination Report.
And although the destinations in the report are only indicative, the report says SkyUp MT intends to use the slots in Warsaw to serve eight destinations (map below).
Additionally, as two of the destinations are not included in the European Common Aviation Area agreement, it is likely that some of SkyUp MT’s operations could remain as charter flights. This was a possibility that was mentioned by SkyUp’s General Director, Dmytro Seroukhov, in an interview to Interfax-Ukraine in October.
«The same plane, for example, flies three times a day. But one flight will be chartered, one regular, and one more at all like we will take the football team somewhere for meetings or training. This is our hybridity», said Seroukhov when discussing future operations within the European Union.
Back then, the executive said he expected flights «realistically» to begin from the end of April 2024, with a particular focus on «tourist destinations».
While SkyUp MT has currently one Boeing 737-700 and one 737-800, according to Planespotters.net, SkyUp Airlines — the Ukrainian AOC — operates two 737-700 and six 737-800.
