SkyUp Airlines and Wizz Air have firmed a new ACMI charter agreement. The contract is to be effective from April 1, 2024, and extends until March 31, 2025.
This will involve the deployment of three SkyUp™ aircraft under ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) terms.
Two of these aircraft will be stationed in Bucharest (OTP), while the remaining aircraft will be based in Warsaw (WAW).
Stakeholder Comments
“ACMI operations are a core focus of our current growth strategy,” said Dmytro Sieroukhov, CEO of SkyUp Airlines.
“This agreement with Wizz Air is a significant step forward, building upon our successful past cooperation.”
“It further reinforces SkyUp™’s position as a trusted partner for Europe’s leading airlines, consistently delivering exceptional safety and service standards.”
Mauro Peneda, Head of Operations Control Centre at Wizz Air, echoed the positive sentiment, saying, “We’re delighted to expand our partnership with SkyUp.”
“Their unwavering commitment to operational excellence, safety, and professionalism aligns perfectly with our own values, as demonstrated during our previous collaborations.”
“This summer, we’re excited to reach new heights by working together with SkyUp to provide our passengers with an unparalleled travel experience.”
ACMI: A Flexible Aircraft Leasing Solution
The agreement mentioned above leverages a concept known as ACMI, which stands for Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance. Essentially, it’s a type of aircraft leasing arrangement between two airlines. Here’s a breakdown of how it works:
- The Lessor: In this case, SkyUp Airlines acts as the lessor. They provide three operational aircraft, complete with trained pilots, cabin crew, and maintenance support. They’re also responsible for ensuring all necessary insurance is in place.
- The Lessee: Wizz Air, the lessee, benefits from the additional capacity provided by SkyUp’s aircraft. This allows them to expand their operations without the long-term commitment of purchasing new planes. They handle tasks like fueling the aircraft, managing ground handling at airports, and covering any additional fees or taxes.
ACMI offers a flexible solution for airlines facing various situations. It can be particularly useful for:
- Seasonal Demand: Airlines can address spikes in passenger traffic during peak seasons by temporarily acquiring extra aircraft through ACMI.
- New Route Testing: ACMI allows airlines to test the viability of new routes without the upfront investment of deploying their own fleet.
- Maintenance Coverage: When an airline’s aircraft undergoes scheduled maintenance, ACMI leasing can help bridge any operational gaps.
Strategy Shift to ACMI Operations
SkyUp Airlines, a Ukrainian charter and low-cost carrier, took flight in May 2018 and is headquartered in Kyiv.
The airline now boasts a growing presence with operational bases in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Lviv. SkyUp has carved a niche for itself by offering attractive fares on popular destinations, making travel more accessible
This partnership with Wizz Air signifies SkyUp™’s strategic shift towards ACMI operations, initiated in 2022 following the start of the large-scale conflict.
Since then, SkyUp™ has steadily established itself as a reliable provider for various airlines. Its customers include Tunisair, FlyOne, HiSky SRL, HiSky Europe SRL, Wizz Air Malta, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, Corendon Dutch, Tailwind Airlines, and FlyEgypt.
Their dedication to quality was further recognized in summer 2023 when ch-aviation included SkyUp Airlines among the top 20 ACMI service providers in European airspace.
Click the banner to subscribe to our weekly newsleter.
Click the photo to join our WhatsApp channel so then you can stay up to date with everything going on in the aviation industry!
