Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) plans to add eight medium-haul Boeing aircraft to its fleet in 2017, the airline’s President Yurii Miroshnikov announced in an interview with the Interfax Ukraine news agency.
"We received eight Boeing 737-800NG aircraft in the first nine months of 2016, including one new aircraft from the factory. We expect to receive another aircraft before the end of the year. Regarding our plans for 2017 – at least eight aircraft. However, UIA has significantly tightened the requirements for the age of aircraft and the state of the equipment in aircraft cabins. Therefore, negotiations that are quite complex are being held with lessors in order to implement this plan. We do not want to compromise: if we are unable to get eight aircraft that meet the set criteria, we will have to revise our route plans," Miroshnikov said.
Asked about replenishment of the airline’s fleet of long-haul aircraft, Miroshnikov said that the airline was working on promising projects regarding this issue. "I hope there will be good news on this subject soon," he added.
Based at the airport Boryspil, UIA is the largest Ukrainian airline. The airline has a fleet of 39 aircraft: 35 medium-haul and four long-haul aircraft. One of the airline’s ultimate beneficiaries is businessman Ihor Kolomoiskyi.
