A Ukrainian cargo airline launched during the Russian invasion has taken delivery of its first ever Boeing 737-800 conversion.
SuperNova Airlines, a subsidiary of the private Ukrainian postal and courier company Nova Poshta, was founded in 2021, but didn’t earn its airline operator’s certificate until January 2023.
“We are the first Ukrainian carrier that was able to fulfill all the requirements and received the Operator’s Certificate in wartime conditions. This is an example of the indomitability of Ukrainians and a reminder to other businesses that right now is the best time to invest in Ukraine,” Yaroslav Krasnozhon, CEO of Supernova Airlines, said in January 2023.
The newly arrived Boeing 737-800BDSF (BeDek Special Freighter) was delivered by lessor World Star Aviation following its conversion by BeDek, a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).
According to a spokesperson for SuperNova, the airline completed the process of introducing the Boeing 737-800SF to its “Operation Specifications” on September 27, 2024, and the aircraft will enter service later this year.
The SuperNova spokesperson said: “While the procedure for obtaining permits for flights in European countries and the USA is ongoing, we are ready to perform charter flights outside the EU – where a Ukrainian operator’s certificate is sufficient for commercial flights.”
It is understood that the Boeing 737-800, registered UR-NPA, was leased to SuperNova in August 2024 and performed a technical flight from Guangzhou in China to Vilnius in Lithuania prior to its delivery.
Commenting on the Boeing freighter’s arrival the SuperNova CEO said: “Finally, we have the possibility of commercial operation of our Boeing 737-800SF aircraft, so far outside the airspace of the EU, but we will soon receive this permission as well. It is noteworthy that our radio-telephone call sign is Nova. I would like to hear it on the air more often, and the team is making every effort for this.”
Krasnozhon added: “I am grateful to the team for their titanic work. Without them, none of this would have been possible. We are glad that we can take part in the development of the Ukrainian aviation business.”
SuperNova’s first flight was on an ATR 72-500F (registered YL-RAK), owned by Latvian carrier RAF-Avia, in May 2023, from Riga International Airport (RIX) to Poland, where seven tons of parcels were loaded onto trucks and driven into Ukraine.
The Ukrainian carrier’s Boeing 737-800BDSF is currently located at Vilnius International Airport (VNO) after arriving from Aeropuerto Internacional de Siauliai (SQQ) on September 18, 2024.
A spokesperson for World Star Aviation said: “This delivery is a fundamental pillar for the airline’s ramp-up programme, further contributing to connecting Ukraine to the World. The aircraft is expected to begin commercial operations very soon, and we at World Star Aviation look forward to seeing this beautiful livery crossing the skies. We are thrilled about the journey ahead with SuperNova Airlines.”
Supernova currently only operates flights to and from the European Union (EU) due to Ukrainian airspace being closed.
Once the war is over, the airline plans to operate flights from Ukrainian international airports at Boryspil and Lviv.