Article from BTNews 5 DECEMBER 2016
Ukraine's Boeing boost
An ambitious fleet-renewal and expansion programme by Ukraine International Airlines has reached a milestone with the arrival of a ninth Boeing B737-800. The aircraft entered commercial service on Monday with a flight to Kharkiv.
The Boeing accommodates 186 passengers in a two-class configuration and will be operated across the UIA medium-haul route network.
Airline spokesman Evgeniya Satska said: “The delivery of our latest aircraft is a landmark event marking another stage of UIA’s history, and was a great birthday gift to mark our 24th anniversary.
“Fleet enhancement just before Christmas and New Year holidays enables us to offer more seats on the most popular flights and increase regularity of operations. Then fleet renewal will continue into 2017, with the next aircraft planned to arrive in January.”
The airline operates 39 aircraft including 21 B737 NGs with an average age of 8.4 years. Meanwhile, the two decommissioned Boeing 737-500 aircraft are currently in UIA storage and expected to be returned to the lessors.
Having successfully implemented the expansion programme, the average age of the whole UIA fleet has been lowered by 24 months, from 13.5 years at 31 December 2015 to 11.5 years at 31 December this year.
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