Summary
- SkyUp Airlines has received approval to operate flights in US airspace, allowing them to take advantage of the large aviation market through wet lease and charter flights.
- The approval required clearance from three US regulatory bodies – the Department of Transportation, Transportation Security Administration, and the Federal Aviation Administration.
- The approved aircraft for US airspace are four Boeing 737-800s, previously owned by Malaysia Airlines and Sunwing.
SkyUp Airlines has been granted approval to operate flights in US airspace, with four of the Ukrainian carrier’s aircraft receiving clearance to fly to, from, and within the US. The airline plans to take advantage of the vast market by operating a series of wet lease and charter flights.
To fly in US airspace, SkyUp Airlines needed approval from three of the country’s regulatory bodies – the Department of Transportation (DOT), which granted permission for the airline to conduct business on US soil, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which ensured that SkyUp Airlines complied with all necessary security requirements, and lastly, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which granted the carrier with its FAR129 certificate.
Photo: Maksym Pasternak | Shutterstock
The aircraft that have been granted approval to fly in US airspace are four Boeing 737-800s, registered as UR-SQB, UR-SQC, UR-SQF, and UR-SQP. The first three of these aircraft were previously owned by Malaysia Airlines before transferring to SkyUp Airlines in 2018, while the latter belonged to the Canadian leisure carrier Sunwing.
No stranger to wet lease operations
SkyUp Airlines is already well-versed in wet lease operations. Shortly after Ukrainian airspace was shut at the start of the conflict in February 2022, the carrier took all of its aircraft and crew out of Ukraine and has since been operating a number of wet lease and charter flights across Europe. Throughout that time, the carrier has also flown a series of humanitarian flights.
That said, it seems that SkyUp Airlines’ aircraft have struggled to escape harm, as one of the carrier’s 737-800s was severely damaged in deadly clashes at Khartoum International Airport (KRT) in Sudan in April 2023, along with an Airbus A330-300 belonging to the Saudi Arabian flag carrier, Saudia.
Photo: kbp.spotter | Shutterstock
SkyUp Airlines was recently granted a Maltese AOC in May 2023, facilitating its operations across Europe. The carrier has stated, however, that it intends to return to Ukraine as soon as possible following the end of the conflict.
A growing fleet of Boeing 737s
SkyUp began operations in May 2018 and, before the conflict, flew to a wide range of destinations across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, including Barcelona (BCN), Dubai (DXB), and Sharm El Sheikh (SSH). The airline had three primary operating bases – Boryspil International Airport (KBP) in Kyiv, Kharkiv International Airport (HRK), and Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport (LWO).
Photo: kbp.spotter | Shutterstock
Data from ch-aviation.com shows that the airline’s fleet currently boasts nine aircraft – two Boeing 737-700s and seven 737-800s. The carrier also has seven 737 MAXs on order – two 737 MAX 7s, two 737 MAX 8s, and three 737 MAX 10s.
What do you think of SkyUp Airlines being granted approval to fly in US airspace? What kind of flights and routes do you see the carrier operating in the future? Share your thoughts by commenting below.
Source: ch-aviation.com