Windrose Airlines
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_UR-WRJ_-_MSN_1869_(9511950838).jpg?lang=en) Windrose Airlines Airbus A321-200 | |||||||
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| Founded | 28 October 2003 | ||||||
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| Operating bases | |||||||
| Fleet size | 6 | ||||||
| Headquarters | Kyiv, Ukraine | ||||||
| Key people | Volodymyr Kamenchuk (general director)[2]
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| Website | windrose | ||||||
Windrose Airlines, legally Wind Rose Aviation Company, is a Ukrainian charter airline based at Boryspil International Airport. Founded on 28 October 2003, the airline's headquarters is in Kyiv; it operates charter flights to destinations in Europe, Turkey, and Egypt.
History
[edit]The airline was established in 2003 to provide charter flights to destinations in Europe and the Middle East. It is most probably part of the Privat Group of billionaire Ihor Kolomoyskyi which also owned PrivatBank before it was nationalised,[3] Ukraine International Airlines, as well as formerly owned now-defunct airlines Cimber Sterling, Donbassaero, Dniproavia and AeroSvit.[4]
In 2006, regular flights to Moscow and Kaliningrad in Russia were initiated. In 2008, the company expanded its route network, then sharply reduced it.[5] Since 2008, Windrose Airlines has focused on charter flights. From 2010 to the present day, the airline has been licensed to operate regular flights, should the need arise. The airline was the first to carry out flights basing its aircraft at various airports in Ukraine.
In December 2019, the company rebranded to Windrose Airlines. In June 2020, the company started domestic flights in Ukraine.
As a result of the 24 February 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine the company suspended all flights, stating "due to the imposition of martial law in the country, Windrose will suspend flights indefinitely, but we will be in touch."[6]
As of March 2024, Windrose Airlines operates charter flights under contract with Fly One Airlines out of destinations such as Tbilisi, Yerevan and Chisinau.
Fleet
[edit]Current fleet
[edit]
The Windrose Airlines fleet includes the following aircraft (as of April 2025[update]):[7]
| Aircraft | In service | Orders | Passengers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A321-200 | 2 | — | 215 | |
| ATR 72-600 | 3 | — | 70/72 | |
| Embraer E190 | 1 | — | 104 | |
| Total | 6 | — | ||
Historic fleet
[edit]Over the years, Windrose Airlines has operated the following aircraft:[8]
| Aircraft | Total | Year Introduced | Year Retired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A320-200 | 5 | 2015 | 2025 | One destroyed at Dnipro International Airport in the Russo-Ukrainian War |
| Airbus A330-200 | 1 | 2017 | 2017 | |
| Boeing 737-800 | 1 | 2024 | 2024 | former Ukraine International Airlines aircraft (UR-PSP) |
| Boeing 737-900ER | 1 | 2024 | 2024 | former Ukraine International Airlines aircraft (UR-PSI) |
| Embraer 145 | 7 | 2017 | 2021 | Inherited from Dniproavia |
| McDonell Douglas MD-82 | 3 | 2007 | 2012 | |
| McDonell Douglas MD-83 | 1 | 2008 | 2012 |
Incidents and accidents
[edit]- On 5 April 2025, five Windrose Airlines aircraft (one Airbus A320-200, two Airbus A321-200 and two ATR 72-600) were destroyed at Dnipro International Airport after a Russian Geran-2 strike hit the airport maintenance hangar in the Russo-Ukrainian War. There were no reported fatalities.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ "IATA – Airline and Airport Code Search". iata.org. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
- ^ "Windrose Airlines outlines its ATR 72-600 delivery schedule". Russian Aviation Insider. 2 March 2020.
- ^ "Ukraine's biggest lender PrivatBank nationalised". BBC. 19 December 2016.
- ^ "Ukraine Billionaire To Expand Aviation Empire". 11 June 2011.
- ^ "Windrose Airlines on ch-aviation". ch-aviation. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ^ Windrose Airlines (2023). "Schedule". windrose.aero. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ "Windrose Airlines Fleet Details and History". www.planespotters.net. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "Windrose Airlines Fleet Details and History". www.planespotters.net. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "Aircraft of Ukraine's Windrose struck by Russia - report". ch-Aviation.
External links
[edit]
- Official website (in English)
