Ukraine’s SkyUp Airlines Resumes International Flights for First Time Since 2022 Russian Invasion

Ukrainian carrier SkyUp Airlines has resumed regular passenger flights for the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, the company announced, as reported by Ukrainian media outlet Ami on April 18.

The first scheduled flight took off from Chișinău, Moldova, to Paris, marking a significant milestone for Ukraine’s aviation industry, which has been largely grounded due to the war.

A second route, from Chișinău to Lisbon, is also slated to launch shortly.

“To preserve Ukrainian aviation, we’ve preserved what matters most—our people, their expertise, and their passion for flying,” said Dmytro Seroukhov, CEO of SkyUp Airlines.

“Today’s launch of regular flights from Chișinău is not just a new chapter for our company—it’s proof that Ukrainian specialists and businesses can remain part of global aviation, no matter the circumstances. Every new flight is our quiet but confident response to the challenges of this time.”

Looking ahead, SkyUp has announced its winter 2025–2026 flight program, offering connections across nine European countries. In addition to Paris and Lisbon, the airline will operate flights to:

• Nice, France

• Barcelona, Alicante, and Palma de Mallorca, Spain

• Larnaca, Cyprus

• Athens, Thessaloniki, and Heraklion, Greece

• Berlin, Germany

• Prague, Czechia

• Stockholm, Sweden

These flights will also depart from Chișinău, which has become a key hub for SkyUp’s international operations while Ukrainian airspace remains closed to commercial traffic.

Earlier, a Ukrainian Antonov An-124 “Ruslan” transport aircraft successfully delivered a Super Puma multipurpose helicopter to Réunion Island .

The An-124 remains one of the largest cargo aircraft in the world, capable of transporting aviation equipment, specialized machinery, and even military hardware.

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