You're reading: Ukrainian low-cost airline to launch new flights in 2020

In the spring of 2020, Ukrainian budget airline SkyUp will launch flights to Portugal and Albania, the company announced on Dec. 23.

It will add two more countries to 13 on the airline’s current portfolio.

The first flight from Kyiv to Lisbon will take place on March 29, to Tirana – on May 30.

Flights to Lisbon will take place twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays. Tickets start at Hr 2,772, or €107, and are already available for booking on the official website of the airline.

As SkyUp’s tickets come in three classes, Basic, Standard, and Flex, the most expensive ticket to Lisbon costs Hr 5,567, or €216. It comes with an option of changing departure time, cancellation with surcharge, and allows one checked-in suitcase up to 23 kilograms.

Flights from Kyiv to Tirana will take place three times a week – on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays starting June 8.

The price for a one-way ticket to Albania’s capital starts at Hr 2,307, or €89. A Standard-class ticket starts at €112 and includes one checked-in suitcase and changing departure date with surcharge.

SkyUp is the first domestic low-cost airline in Ukraine. It was launched in 2018 by a local tourism operator, Join Up.

In 2019, the company ran into difficulties as a Kyiv Oblast court unexpectedly suspended its license in a fishy ruling.

Back then Aleksandr Alba, the SkyUp’s co-founder, told the Kyiv Post that the company is suffering a campaign of pressure, supposedly organized by Ukraine International Airlines (UIA), the largest Ukrainian carrier, owned by oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky.

Kolomoisky and UIA denied any involvement in SkyUp’s problems.

On Sept. 25, the Kyiv Court of Appeal has canceled the decision that suspended SkyUp’s license.

On Dec. 3, SkyUp announced new regular flights for the summer season of 2020 from Ukrainian western city of Lviv to Batumi in Georgia, Burgas in Bulgaria, and Barcelona in Spain.