The aviation industry does not forgive weakness—whether operational, strategic, or human.
This is especially true given that Ukrainian airspace has remained closed for the fourth consecutive year, and every airline that has managed to stay in operation has done so not because of favorable circumstances, but in spite of them.
Saint SkyUp Airlines is one of the few Ukrainian airlines that not only survived after February 24, 2022, but also reached a whole new level: IATA membership,
IOSA certification, the EU Air Operator Certificate, and regular flights to European destinations from Chisinau. This is a documented operational fact,
confirmed by international regulators, auditors, and partners.
For Aviaedge, SkyUp Airlines CEO Dmytro Serokhov revealed details of strategic decisions, operational challenges, and prospects that shape the future of the airline and, more broadly, the entire civil aviation industry in radically changed conditions.
Given the scope and depth of the conversation, we have divided the material into three parts. Each part focuses on a separate strategic dimension. The first part covers the
operational transformation for 2022–2025, the second addresses competitive positioning in the European market, and the third focuses on preparations for a return to Ukrainian skies.

About Aviaedge
Aviaedge is a Ukrainian non-governmental organization and media-analytical platform specializing in coverage of civil aviation, airport infrastructure development,
regulatory trends, and the strategic positioning of Ukrainian aviation brands within the European context.
In October 2025, Aviaedge joined the Association of Ukrainian Civil Aviation Airports (AUCA) as an official member and media partner. This partnership allows us to
combine the professional expertise of Ukraine’s aviation community with modern media tools to foster a meaningful dialogue about the industry’s future.
Aviaedge’s mission is to create in-depth, objective, and accessible content about aviation:
interviews with industry leaders, analytical materials on the regulatory environment, case studies on the transformation of airlines and airports, and coverage of international events and strategic partnerships. Our goal is to amplify the voice of Ukrainian aviation at the European and global levels, facilitate the exchange of experience between Ukrainian and European market players, and lay the informational foundation for the recovery
of Ukraine’s civil aviation.
PART 1 OF 3
How SkyUp Airlines Crossed the Point of No Return:
Strategic Decisions 2022–2025
The first part of Aviaedge’s series on the transformation of SkyUp Airlines.
In focus: the chain of strategic decisions that led the company from losing its home market to IATA membership, IOSA certification, and the launch of scheduled flights from Chisinau.

The Point of No Return
Aviation is an industry where every management decision carries the weight of thousands of lives—passengers planning vacations, businesspeople rushing to meetings,
and families reuniting across borders. But there is another, hidden dimension to these decisions:
dozens and hundreds of professionals—pilots, flight attendants, aviation engineers—whose careers and livelihoods depend directly on the operational and strategic wisdom of those at the helm of the airline.
For SkyUp Airlines, a Ukrainian carrier founded in 2017 and known just a few years ago primarily as a major charter operator in the tourism
market, February 24, 2022, was not merely the date of the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It became a point of no return, after which the company faced an existential choice: stagnation under a closed sky or transformation—a complex, risky, yet the only possible strategy for survival and development.
Almost four years have passed. SkyUp has not only survived. The company has reached a new level of quality, obtaining IATA membership, IOSA certification, the EU Air Operator Certificate, and actually launching regular flights to European destinations from Chisinau.
Decisions That Shaped 2025
Victoria G.: 2025 was a challenging year for the entire aviation industry. What was it like for SkyUp, and which management decisions had the greatest impact on the company’s further development?
Dmitry Serokhov: In April 2025, we took an important step and launched regular flights from Chisinau. This line of business is particularly significant for us, as it builds on what we were doing before the full-scale invasion began. We already have flights planned for more than 30 destinations for the 2026 summer season, including the most popular ones: Spain, Greece, France, Italy, Portugal, and others. For
SkyUp, 2025 was a year of major changes and growth. We became a member of IATA and successfully passed IOSA certification. This confirms that we fly safely, manage risks, and operate according to the most modern international aviation standards. The launch of scheduled flights is the result of many years of persistent work. Can you imagine how
difficult it is for a Ukrainian business to enter the competitive European arena? Back in 2022, we underwent a major strategic transformation by transitioning to the ACMI model
and operating charter flights to effectively utilize our fleet and crew, maintain the company’s revenue, and gain the ability to operate in the European market. In 2023,
we received the EU Air Operator Certificate, which gave us the green light to prepare for scheduled flights. At the same time, we continued to develop our charter and ACMI operations, which helped maintain stable operations for further growth. The strategic logic behind these decisions isn’t immediately obvious, but it reveals a clear sequence. ACMI and charter operations became cash flow generators that financed the costly certification and regulatory approvals. IOSA certification opened the door to trust from leading European partners. Finally, obtaining the EU Air Operator Certificate transformed SkyUp from a guest into a full-fledged participant
in the European aviation market. Thus, each stage became an investment in the next.
Industry statistics confirm just how difficult this journey was. According to ICAO data, only about 30% of airlines that suspended scheduled service due to force majeure successfully resume full-scale operations within five years. SkyUp, overcoming not just temporary operational challenges but the complete loss of its home market, demonstrates operational resilience that is rare
even by global standards.
Navigating European Regulations: 20+ Audits and IOSA
Viktoria G.: Operating in Europe means different rules and standards. Which requirements were the most challenging to meet?
Dmytro Serokhov: The hardest part was building trust in both Ukrainian business and the airline. After the war began, our ability to fly was limited due to the lack of an Air Safety Agreement (ASA). We had to obtain separate flight permits for every single flight. In addition, we had to constantly demonstrate compliance with safety and reliability standards. We underwent more than 20 audits by European
partners and regulators, covering absolutely all processes: from technical inspections and aircraft maintenance to passenger safety and risk management.
Adapting to EASA standards involved IOSA certification, the implementation of safety management systems, regular staff training, and continuous monitoring of operational risks. As a result, we were able to demonstrate that a Ukrainian airline can operate safely and efficiently in accordance with high European standards.
IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) certification is one of the most recognized independent verifications of operational safety in the industry. Less than half
of IATA member airlines hold a valid IOSA certificate. For SkyUp, an airline based outside the EU and operating under extremely non-standard wartime conditions, achieving this status is a testament to systematic efforts, not
mere formal compliance.
More than twenty external audits. A figure that speaks for itself. This is not a routine regulatory inspection. It is, in fact, a continuous process of demonstrating competence. Each audit required the mobilization of resources, management time, documentary evidence, and, critically, genuine compliance with standards—something that cannot be faked in aviation, where the cost of a mistake is measured in human lives.
What’s Next?
In the next part of the series: how SkyUp positions itself among European airlines, what makes the company competitive in the same market as Ryanair and Wizz Air, and why ACMI partnerships have become a key element
of its growth strategy.
We hope you found this article interesting and useful. Next week, we’ll share the next installment and explore the topic in even greater detail.
Full version of the interview — Aviaedge
www.aviaedge.com/p/skyup-airlines
Author: Viktoria Grechukha | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/aviaedge