The Ukrainian low-cost airline SkyUp is urgently looking for new wet lease orders. The company posted an appeal on the social media platform LinkedIn.

Among other things, it is written that it is currently the only Ukrainian airline that is still in the air. "During the 8-month forced relocation due to the wet lease contracts, we managed to save aircraft and crew: 11 medium-haul Boeing 737s, 408 flight attendants and 204 pilots," the company said. According to its own information, it flew for ten airlines in the 2022 summer flight schedule, including Wizz Air, Smartwings, Freebird, Tailwind and Corendon. It's not the first “urgent call” because it's already in the spring one looked for wet lease customers.

Now they are urgently looking for new wet lease orders for the winter of 2022/23. The carrier writes: "We urgently need new partnerships so that we don't get off track this winter season and beyond". Despite intensive efforts, the 2022 summer timetable was only able to carry out a fraction of the number of flights in the same period of the previous year. This is primarily due to the war in Ukraine.

Reluctance regarding Malta subsidiary

SkyUp established a subsidiary in Malta a few months ago. This is currently in the approval process. The company originally announced that it would operate the first charter flights as early as December 2022. Also one spoke of a fleet of 19 Boeing 737 for the summer flight schedule 2023. Also long-haul flights has been promised. In the meantime, communication is much more reserved.

The Malta offshoot is expected to receive AOC and operating license from the Maltese authorities after late 2022 or early 2023. At least part of the fleet currently registered in Ukraine will then be transferred to the 9H register. Furthermore, new deliveries of the Boeing 737-Max-8 type, which are obtained from leasing companies, are to be registered with the Maltese subsidiary. The date for the first flight has not yet been determined.

Although it was announced that in summer 2023 it would fly on its own account as well as charter and ACMI, the possible route network has not yet been communicated. Therefore, it remains to be seen whether SkyUp will implement the original announcement and try to shake up the EU market or not.