July 3, 2008. Ukraine’s national carrier Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) has increased passenger numbers by a staggering 25% in the first two quarters of 2008. UIA carried 760 000 passengers in the first 6 months of 2008. This was an increase of 25% over the same period in 2007. In June alone the airline operated more than one thousand six hundred scheduled flights, carried nearly 155 000 passengers and more than 400 tons of cargo. The passenger load factor in June was 71%, on average; up from 64.0 % in June 2007.

Airline Deputy President Richard Creagh said “These results are not only a vindication of our ‘low cost, high value” strategy but also proof that the economy is really growing and that Ukrainians now have more disposable income to hand.”

“The improvements we made to our scheduling to improve customer service have also enabled us to make more effective use of our fleet”, he said.  “We are now entering the summer peak so continued strong growth is forecast for the second half of the year when our next new Boeing will be delivered.”

Press-office of Ukraine International Airlines
Tel/fax: (044)   238 26 97     E-mail: press.service@ps.kiev.ua

Ukraine International Airlines is Ukraine’s leading international carrier. Founded in 1992 UIA was one of the first businesses in Ukraine to attract foreign investment. UIA also was the first airline in CIS to introduce Boeing 737 aircraft. Today UIA`s fleet consists of 15 modern Boeing 737 aircraft of different modifications. The airline connects Ukraine with nearly 3000 places of the world, operating scheduled flights to London, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Berlin, Frankfurt, Vienna, Zurich, Rome, Milan, Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon, Helsinki, Dubai, Tbilisi,  Pula, Morastir, Dubrovnik, Nice, Lviv and Simferopol. The base airport for UIA is Kiev-Boryspil (KBP). The shareholdings in Ukraine International Airlines are as follows: State Property Fund of Ukraine - 61.6%, Austrian Airlines - 22.5%, Aer Cap - 6% and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) - 9.9%. Detailed information on UIA is available at www.flyUIA.com