The Boeing 777-300ER with registration UR-AZR became Ukraine’s largest passenger aircraft at the end of 2021. It can transport 531 passengers on transcontinental routes in a single flight.
On February 24, 2022, following the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the aircraft was grounded for many months at Boryspil Airport. On December 19, 2023 it was finally evacuated from Ukraine to a European airport, where it remained for over a year.
A year later, on January 23, 2025, the airliner—retaining its original registration and bearing the Ukrainian flag—resumed operations. It was returned to service by the Ukrainian airline Skyline Express, which had previously operated the aircraft.
During that time, the airline rebranded from Azur Air Ukraine to avoid association with the Russian carrier Azur Air and completely restructured its operations.
Before the invasion, Azur Air Ukraine transported Ukrainian tourists to holiday destinations. Now, Skyline Express carries vacationers from EU countries to holiday resorts.
Since early 2025, the Boeing 777-300ER (UR-AZR) has been flying routes from Poland to distant seaside resorts. Starting in April, it has been operating flights from Riga, Vilnius, and Tallinn to Antalya and Hurghada.
Thanks to its exceptionally large capacity, a single flight on the Ukrainian Boeing 777-300ER replaces three flights typically operated by narrow-body aircraft like the Airbus A320 or Boeing 737-800, which are commonly used on such routes.
While the high capacity of the Boeing 777-300ER makes long-haul flights less comfortable, it significantly reduces the cost per passenger. This allows tour operators to offer more affordable travel packages.
