Boeing and SkyUp Airlines finalized a firm order for five B737 MAX aircraft -- two MAX 8s and three МАХ 10s -- valued at US$624 million at list prices. SkyUp Airlines is the first airline in Ukraine to have signed a contract for the supply of B737 MAX aircraft.

Delivery of the first five planes direct from Seattle is expected in 2023. According to the terms of the contract, there is an option to order five other aircraft of the same models with similar delivery terms. Thus, the fleet of the SkyUp Airlines in 2023-2024 will be replenished by at least 10 newer aircraft.

The aircraft will be powered by LEAP-1B engines.

“We are confident that this purchase will give us a competitive advantage thanks to the unparalleled performance of the Boeing 737 MAX family, and the MAX 10’s unbeatably low cost per seat mile,” said Eugeny Khainatsky, General Director of SkyUp Airlines.

SkyUp is a new carrier based in Kiew, and plans to launch charter operations in April 2018 with three leased B737NGs -- two 2013-vintage B737-800s and one 2002-vintage B737-700. The MAX order will be used to meet future demand in the Ukrainian market.

In the first year of operations, the carrier plans to perform international charter flights, as well as the opening of regular domestic and international flights. From the middle of summer, the first regular flights will take place on the routes Kiev - Odessa and Kharkiv - Odessa, as well as opening of ticket sales for international flights to Barcelona and Larnaca.