The Malta branch of the Ukrainian low-cost airline SkyUp is now officially an airline, having received AOC, operating license and CAMO approval from the Maltese Civil Aviation Authority.

“I am proud that another major player in the aviation industry has chosen Malta. We are excited to welcome SkyUp MT to the 9H* community. The team has shown tremendous commitment and ambition over the many months of discussion and review of the application. I would also like to thank the CAD inspectors led by Ing. Connie Di Cesare for their excellent work and support throughout the process,” states Charles Pace, Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Malta.

SkyUp MT is based in the Republic of Malta, the smallest member of the European Union. The Ukrainians are expecting improved market access from the EU branch, because up to now many services have only been allowed to be provided on the basis of special permits.

Charter and ACMI first, then scheduled flights

“The SkyUp brand with Ukrainian DNA is now international. This makes us one of the first in the history of Ukrainian aviation. For us, this means we need to explore new opportunities and grow our business. But our ambitious goal is to show the whole world that Ukrainian brands can compete with European ones and in the long run, thanks to a special service, will be recognized as the best in Europe and the world. We once proved that a small airline with just 10 aircraft can be visible and trend setting in the global aviation industry. By replacing flight attendants' heels with sneakers, we became an example of caring for our staff,” comments Oleksandr Alba, co-owner of SkyUp Airlines. “Now that we are entering the international market, we have more opportunities to bring Ukraine's victory even closer. Symbolically and intentionally, the first plane in the fleet of Maltese airline SkyUp MT is the plane with the inscription The Power of Freedom, because this iron bird also has a Ukrainian heart”.

Initially, the EU branch wants to provide charter and ACMI services. In the future, scheduled flights will be taken up at the company's own expense. Originally, the aim was to set up an extensive network as early as summer 2023, but the project has also been delayed because the AOC and operating license were granted later than hoped.

First machine bears the registration 9H-SAU

“The Ukrainian brand SkyUp, which has transformed Ukrainian civil aviation in the five years of its existence, is now also available in EU countries,” said Dmytro Seroukhov, CEO of SkyUp Airlines and Accountable Manager at SkyUp MT. "The SkyUp MT team is sincerely grateful to the Malta Civil Aviation Directorate for the professional approach, openness and opportunity offered to work fully in the EU market".

A Boeing 9-737 is currently registered on the Maltese AOC with the 800H-SAU. This was built in 2011 and has 189 seats. The aircraft, formerly part of the SkyUp Airlines fleet, bears the inscription "The Power of Freedom", which was created in cooperation with the fundraising platform United24.

SkyUp MT plans to receive more aircraft by the end of 2023. These aircraft will no longer come from the Ukrainian SkyUp fleet, but will be brought into the fleet under new lease agreements. Further details on the identity of the planned newcomers are not yet available.