UIA agreed with Etihad Airways on launching flight Kyiv-Abu Dhabi-Johannesburg

09:55

Kyiv-based CJSC Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) jointly with Etihad Airways (United Arab Emirates) is to launch a Kyiv-Abu Dhabi-Johannesburg flight on November 13.

The Ukrainian carrier's press service said that passengers will fly from Kyiv to Abu Dhabi on UIA planes, and from there Etihad Airways planes would fly them to Johannesburg. Passengers can buy one ticket for the whole journey.

"The connecting time at Abu Dhabi airport is one hour and 35 minutes on the way from Kyiv to Johannesburg, and one hour and 45 minutes on the return journey," reads the UIA press release.

According to the release, the Kyiv-Abu Dhabi-Johannesburg flights will be made twice a week – on Mondays and Fridays. From November 25, 2009, the frequency of the flight will be increased to three times a week – on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

CJSC Ukraine International Airlines was founded in 1992. The company has 19 Boeing airplanes of various types: five Boeing 737-300s, six Boeing 737-400s, six Boeing 737-500s, and two Boeing 737-800s. The company's main airport is at Boryspil International Airport.

UIA increased passenger transportation by 16.5%, to 1.68 million people in 2008. The company saw its net profit fall by 25.4% in January through September 2009, year-over-year, to UAH 31.7 million. Its net revenues increased by 15.5%, to UAH 1.54 billion over those nine months.

The State Property Fund of Ukraine owns a 61.6% stake in the company, Austrian Airlines has a 22.5% stake, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development a 9.9% stake, and other shareholders together own a 6% of the company's shares.