Once again demonstrating its adaptability to the challenging times Ukraine is facing after two years of Russian invasion, SkyUp Airlines passed the audit for obtaining the IOSA certification, acronym for IATA Operational Safety Audit, an internationally recognized evaluation system established by IATA, whose purpose is to comprehensively oversee the safety of operations and their respective controls.
This agreement opens new possibilities for expansion for SkyUp in the global ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance leasing) contracts market, the way the company has found to keep operating after all commercial flights were suspended in Ukraine.
«SkyUp Airlines is gradually strengthening its position in the global transportation market through ACMI agreements. IOSA registration is a crucial milestone for us and sends a positive message to potential partners. We aim to demonstrate that cooperation with us is secure, reliable, and profitable,» said Dmytro Sieroukhov, CEO of SkyUp.
«Last year, SkyUp Airlines was among the top 20 airlines in Europe that concluded the most ACMI contracts, according to the specialized publication ch-aviation. This year, we aspire to reach new heights and are determined, open to partnerships, and never settle for what we have achieved,» he added.
In an interview granted to Aviacionline in June last year, the CCO of SkyUp Airlines, Lyudmila Slobodyanyuk, had detailed that since February 2022, they have closed agreements with Air Albania, Air Moldova, Corendon, Corendon Europe, ETF Airways, FlyOne, Freebird Airlines, Marabu, Smartwings, SunAir, Tailwind, Tunisair, WizzAir Abu Dhabi, WizzAir Hungary, and WizzAir Malta.
This has allowed the airline to take care of its finances and keep its 1,200 employees. Together with its subsidiary in Malta, SkyUp has a fleet of two Boeing 737-700s and seven Boeing 737-800s.
«Looking ahead to the next five years, we see SkyUp as a thriving participant in the European market, with a diversified business model. This hybrid approach will combine regular and charter flights, covering approximately 70 routes in the first years. Our goal is to reach a passenger volume of 2 million per year in the next two years,» Slobodyanyuk had commented.
See also: Running an airline during a war: a Q&A with SkyUp’s CCO, Lyudmila Slobodyanyuk