UIA reports on the results of work for 2021

February 7, 2022: Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) summed up the results of 2021. Thus, last year the company successfully implemented measures to optimize and improve the company's performance, minimize the impact of the crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and, in particular - strengthen its reputation in the domestic and international passenger markets. At the same time, the trend towards further implementation of digital solutions in the service environment was continued.

According to the results of 2021, UIA's operating indicators were recorded at the level of:

• 20,657 flights performed, which is 45% more than in 2020 and 65% less than in 2019;
  • Of which 11,673 scheduled flights compared to 10,596 in 2020 and 52,808 in 2019;
  • Of which 8,984 charter flights compared to 3,625 in 2020 and 5,537 in 2019;
• 2790037 passengers carried, which is 61% more than in 2020, but 65% less than in the forecast year 2019;
  • 1,582,519 charter passengers in 2021 compared to 595,341 passengers in 2020 and 1,030,213 in 2019;
  • 1,207,518 scheduled flights in 2021 compared to 1,133,335 passengers in 2020 and 6,936,638 in 2019.
• 4416 tons of cargo and mail compared to 7456 tons in 2020 and 21 650 tons in 2019.

In addition, in 12 months of 2021, the airline returned about 33 million USD to passengers. In total, for the entire period of work in crisis conditions during the pandemic from April 2020 to December 31, 2021, the company provided a return of about 57 million USD.

The transformation and optimization of UIA's operations in 2020-2021 led to a clear reversal of the trend, even in times of crisis, made possible by adapting the company's business model from network to hybrid and significantly reducing costs.

The savings allowed UIA to demonstrate one of the lowest flight cost levels among international network carriers in terms of CASK (Cost Available Seat Kilometer). As previously reported, Lufthansa Consulting made the relevant conclusions based on analytical research.

CASK is the cost per seat kilometer (ASK-available seat kilometer) generated by the company as part of its operating activities. This figure is calculated by mathematically dividing the cost per seat-kilometer. Accordingly, there is a clear pattern of growth of CASK with decreasing chair-kilometers.

“For UIA, as a network carrier, one of the important roles in the formation of CASK is played by long-haul flights operation. Boeing-777 provide transportation of the maximum number of seats over very long distances, which has a positive effect on reducing the cost of flight across the network. Unfortunately, in 2020 - 2021 long-haul boards were withdrawn from the fleet, which affected the increase in CASK compared to 2019. However, according to the approved budget for 2022, with the return of three Boeing-777s, the CASK is expected to decrease compared to 2021. At the same time, CASK 2022 is only 15% higher than the pre-crisis figure in 2019, despite a significant reduction in chair-kilometers compared to 2019. This is the result of the reforms carried out at UIA during the COVID-19 crisis,” said UIA CEO Yevhenii Dykhne.