OREANDA-NEWS. May 14, 2013. UIA carries on implementing the program of fleet renewal and expansion. In March 2013 the airline expanded its fleet with a Boeing 737-500 aircraft. In April 2013 Ukraine International Airlines received 5 aircraft – 3 Boeing 737-500 aircraft, 1 Boeing 737-300 and 1 Embraer-190 aircraft.

UIA received the aircraft in question under terms and conditions of operational lease. New aircraft have passed an official registration procedure in Ukraine and received the following registration numbers: Boeing 737-500 aircraft – UR-GBB, UR-GBC, UR-GBE, UR-GBF, Boeing 737-300 aircraft – UR-GBD and Embraer- 190 aircraft – UR-EMA.

Thus, together with partners the carrier`s fleet currently consists of 26 Boeing aircraft and 1 Embraer-190 aircraft. Due to recent fleet expansion UIA passenger capacity was increased nearly 700 seats up.

“Implementation of the airline's business model of a network carrier, ensuring optimal two-way connections with UIA flights to the East and the West, the North and the South at Kiev Boryspil International airport, sets UIA new challenges for the carrier`s fleet renewal and expansion, – noted Yervgeny Treskunov, UIA Executive Vice President Strategy and Development. – Acquisition of 6 new aircraft in March and April 2013 is yet another step on the road to UIA start-up as the leader of Ukrainian aviation industry maintaining far-reaching route network and undertaking integral socioeconomic mission”.

UIA operates Boeing aircraft since the airline`s foundation in 1992 and is currently the largest CEE Boeing aircraft operator. Moreover, UIA is the only Ukraine`s airline to independently perform all types of Boeing aircraft maintenance.

The airline`s short-term plan envisages UIA fleet expansion with next generation aircraft: two Boeing 737-800 and yet another Embraer- 190 aircraft in May 2013.