Aerosvit Airlines, Ukraine's largest carrier, has struggled to overcome the country's disgraced civil aviation authority and market itself as a respectable global airline. Despite its poor international reputation, Aerosvit has had only one major accident since the carrier was founded in 1994.
Aerosvit Airlines started its services by partnering with Air Ukraine, the country's flag carrier airline, and gradually expanded services using rental aircraft. The airline has since purchased several Boeing 737 aircraft to supplement its leased fleet.
Aerosvit has since overtaken Air Ukraine as the country's largest airline, operating domestic, charter and international flights to Europe, Africa, Asia and North America.
On Dec. 17, 1997, Aerosvit Flight 241 missed its approach to Thessaloniki, Greece, and crashed into a mountain. All passengers and crew were killed. The accident was blamed on pilot error, as the crew did not follow the proper instructions for a missed approach and turned the aircraft into the mountain. Two air traffic controllers were charged with violating regulations and were sentenced to prison for their roles in the crash.
Aerosvit Airlines primarily uses Boeing 737 aircraft for their flights. According to AirDisaster.com, the 737 has the fifth-lowest accident rate among commercial aircraft. It is the third-highest rated Boeing aircraft.
In addition, Aerosvit operates Antonov AN-24 on their regional flights. These Russian-made aircraft are unranked, as they are used primarily for military transport.
Aerosvit Airlines has passed the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), an international certification for safety and operational management. Aerosvit has also joined the Flight Safety Foundation, an international safety standards organization.
Skytrax, an independent airline consultancy, ranks Aerosvit as a two-star airline. This is a poor ranking. Skytrax's rankings are based on the level of service, safety and communication from the airline.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) lists Ukraine as a Category 2 country. According to the FAA, the country is not in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regulations. Until Ukraine's civil aviation authority brings the country into compliance, Aerosvit Airlines cannot expand services in the United States. Aerosvit's current service to New York is not affected.
