Ukrainian charter carrier SkyUp Airlines has announced it has just cleared the final audit process to obtain registration in the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Operational Safety Audit program. According to the carrier, the achievement “validates the airline’s commitment to maintaining high operational safety standards and also presents new prospects for partnering with global aviation leaders under ACMI contracts.”
The IATA Operational Safety Audit Program (IOSA) is a globally recognized assessment system for airline operational safety. IOSA is renowned throughout the industry for conducting operational safety audits and promoting continuous improvement of safety standards. Over the past two decades, IOSA has become the industry-recognized benchmark for safety audits, and registration in this program is seen as a testament to an airline’s reliability for passengers and other stakeholders.
“SkyUp Airlines is gradually strengthening its position in the global transportation market through ACMI agreements,” said Dmytro Sieroukhov, CEO of SkyUp. “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.”
“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,” Sieroukhov added.
Boeing training
Meanwhile, in addition to SkyUp receiving its IOSA accreditation, the carrier has sent a number of its top executives to Boeing in the US to participate in the planemaker’s Airline Planning Workshop (APW), a program that is dedicated to teaching the basics of modern airline management.
According to a company statement, more than 80 employees from the carrier will study airline business models, network and fleet planning, airline economics, and aircraft performance, as well as sustainability while attending the program. According to the company, “Deepening expertise in these topics will help the airline improve performance and bring innovation to Ukrainian civil aviation when the time comes for its recovery and relaunch.”
“We are actively developing on the international market,” said Sieroukhov. “The partnership with Boeing will help us optimize the operation of our fleet and the company according to the highest standards and in accordance with the latest trends in the aviation industry, which will ultimately provide a better travel experience for our passengers.
“We appreciate this cooperation and are grateful to Boeing for the trust and support that the company has given us since the day of our first flight five years ago. Training our team from experts at the Boeing level will enhance our competitive advantage as a European ACMI solutions provider and as a passenger carrier.”
Kyiv-based SkyUp Airlines has managed to keep operating despite the Russian invasion of its homeland in February 2022. With its fleet of eight Boeing 737s (two 737-700s and six 737-800s), the carrier has managed to sustain a variety of operations, including ACMI charters and operating flights under its own brand from bases located in countries outside Ukraine.
The airline has developed a close relationship with Boeing through its outstanding orders for seven MAX series 737s – two for 737-7s, two for 737-8s, and three for the largest variant – the 737-10.