Supernova Airlines authorized to fly to Prague from Kiev, Lvov, plans to start flying after Ukrainian airspace opens

MOSCOW. Oct 23 (Interfax) - Supernova Airlines, part of Nova Group, has been got an authorization from the Ukrainian State Aviation Service to fly from Lvov and Kiev to Prague.

The airline plans to start flying after the airspace is opened, Ukrainian media quoted the Nova Group's press service as saying.

"A commercial authorization is needed to be able to fly immediately after Ukrainian airspace is opened. Getting this authorization means that we will be able to fly on the specified routes as soon as it becomes procedurally possible, that is, when the airspace is opened," the press service said.

According to the order of the State Aviation Service, Supernova Airlines, based on the application registered on October 16, is granted an authorization to make seven flights a week along Lvov - Prague (Czech Republic) - Lvov route and seven flights a week along Kiev - Prague - Kiev route. The authorization is granted on November 1, 2024 for an unlimited period.

It was reported earlier that a Supernova Airlines aircraft got a Third Country Operator Certificate (Part-TCO) from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency allowing the airline to make charter flights to the EU.

Supernova Airlines aims to make long-haul flights from the United States and China to Europe, the press service said.

"The airline is strategically focused on long-haul flights from the U.S. to Europe and from China to Europe, and it will also be ready to operate charter flights on behalf of third-party customers in line with the Boeing 737-800SF's capacity. Final preparations for commercial flights in the EU airspace are underway," it said.

Supernova Airlines, having been granted the authorization for international flights by the Ukrainian State Aviation Service has completed the cycle of establishment as an airline, but the airspace over Ukraine is still closed, Ukrainian media quoted Ukrainian Deputy Reconstruction Minister Timur Tkachenko as saying on social media.

"The news that the Supernova Airlines company was granted a license to perform regular international flights on the Lvov - Prague and Kiev - Prague routes is spreading online. Some channels understood this news in their own way and started to say that 'the airspace is partially opened.' However, this is not true [...], the company has received an operator's certificate, a license for cargo shipping, that is, it has completed the cycle of establishment as an airline," Tkachenko said.

The documents issued by the State Aviation Service to the airline do not grant it an authorization for operating flights, but "are only a commercial option for shipping loads on the specified routes," Tkachenko said.

The Ukrainian Air Code defines an air carrier providing services for the transportation of passengers, cargo, air mail must obtain an appropriate certificate and license to carry out these activities, Tkachenko said.

"We all realize that the security situation does not allow civil aviation flights. The airspace over Ukraine is still closed," he said.