Is it safe to use ukrainian airlines?

[joe24]

AeroSvit has had two major crashes. In 1997, flight 241 crashed in Thessaloniki,  Greece due to pilot error. All 70 people aboard were killed. In 2003, a commuter  flight traveling crashed near the Black Sea in Turkey, killing the 74 passengers  aboard. To date, Ukrainian International Airlines has avoided major air  catastrophes.

History of Ukrainian Airlines | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_5542207_history-ukrainian-airlines.html#ixzz1WgHjT22V

[clancyhound]

I have used S7 when traveling in Russia - not sure of their routes in Ukraine.
Good airline, modern aircraft and excellent service.

[camachinist]

I'd have confidence in Ukrainian Int'l and Aerosvit. I do recall some trips in the old Tu-154's that 6U (Air Ukraine) ran back in the 90's and, meh, the whole experience didn't inspire confidence but I was still breathing so OK. IME, the LO (LOT Polish) 737's aren't much different than the PS or VV 737's. All are full IATA members, so meet certain equipment, maintenance and personel requirements. I'd have no concerns whatsoever traveling to/from Ukraine via air today.

[XMan]

Not sure if past performance is an indicator of future success. 
But, that having been said, have flown Ukrainian International, Aerosvit, and Dniproavia. 
Even the Saab 340B prop plane seemed decent. 

I did travel on a couple of questionable planes in Russia, TU's and SU's.  I survived, but was concerned. 

I think Aerosvit is a good bet for a number of internal flights in Ukraine.

[LAman]

Not much choice for flying internal in Ukraine.
Even with aerosvit, many are codeshare flights with dnipro and donbass.
Never really had a problem with flights.....even the prop planes while noisy seemed fine. Flew into Kiev one time with aerosvit while snowing heavily...kind of scary I thought but all went fine!!!

[BC]

Some things you just do.... like getting in your car to go to work still tired from the weekend shenanigans, wondering if you'll arrive ok.

Yes your chances of demise in a plane accident are much higher than a car.. but there are far less plane accidents than car accidents.

1.2 million deaths in cars each year vs 1200 or so in commercial aircraft with more than 6 passengers.. go figure.

Chances are greater that you will roll over laughing at yourself while reading this reply, fall off your chair and hit your head on the corner of the desk to eventually die from a brain bleed.

Let us know (if you can) how that works out. 

I'll place bets you'll do just fine with those odds.


Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_collision
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aviation_accidents_and_incidents

[Voyager36]

Is it safe to use ukrainian airlines?

No, certainly not! You are likely to run into really hot looking blonde Russian girls. 
 
Not so bad for single guys though. 

[I/O]

In Ukraine and Russia, a good landing is one after which all the people can walk off the plane. A great landing is one after which they can use the plane again.

[JR]

NO!!!!
 
You are MUCH safer driving in Ukraine than flying.
Never fly ANY airline in UK...
EVER!!!

[Anotherkiwi]

In Ukraine and Russia, a good landing is one after which all the people can walk off the plane. A great landing is one after which they can use the plane again.

Nice, but wrong!  A good landing is where everyone claps - a great landing is where nobody claps because they don't realise the plane is already on the ground.

[Wayne]

Here is something I just read:
 
  YAROSLAVL, Russia (AP) — A Russian jet carrying a top local ice hockey team crashed while taking off Wednesday in western Russia, killing 36 people and leaving one critically injured, officials said.
The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry said the Yak-42 plane crashed immediately after leaving an airport near the city of Yaroslavl, on the Volga River about 150 miles (240 kilometers) northeast of Moscow. It said one person survived the crash with grave injuries.
There was no immediate word on weather conditions.
The ministry said the plane was carrying the Lokomotiv ice hockey team from Yaroslavl.
The team was heading to Minsk, the capital of Belarus, where it was to play Thursday against Dinamo Minsk in the opening game of the season of the Kontinental Hockey League. The league is made up of several ex-Soviet nations.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin immediately sent the nation's transport minister to the site of the crash, 10 miles (15 kilometers) east of Yaroslavl.
President Dmitry Medvedev has announced plans to take aging Soviet-built planes out of service starting next year. The short- and medium-range Yak-42 has been in service since 1980 and dozens are still in service with Russian and other airlines.
In June, another Russian passenger jet crashed in the northwestern city of Petrozavodsk, killing 47 people. The crash of that Tu-134 plane has been blamed on pilot error.
(This version CORRECTS spelling of Kontinental League. )

[ML]

Rather than relying on random, ad hoc advice here, you would be better off looking at official statistics.  Do a google search on accident rates, etc.

A while back, I saw some stats that indicated many of FSU countries had airline accident rates that rivaled African countries.  Check it out.

[Handycam72]

Just for background, I work in the world of Aviation.

Ukrainian International Airlines and Aerosvit are the 2 main Airlines of Ukraine. They both have modern fleets, mainly Boeing. Good Maintenence.

Aerosvit Fleet:  http://www.airframes.org/fleet/aew

Older fleet, average age 18.3 years. Oldest active aircraft 22 years old. I never used them, but good solid airline.

Ukrainian International Airlines (UIA): http://www.airframes.org/fleet/aew

Average age: 14.6 years. They are slowly upgrading their fleet, the 737-800 are only 2 years old at most. Flown on UIA many times, good safe airline.

Someone mentioned S7 the Russian Airline: http://www.airframes.org/fleet/sbi
They have a mixture of Boeing, Airbus and Russian Aircraft, personal view is avoid the old Tupolov if you have a fear of flying.

Here are a couple of American Airlines to look at:

American Airlines: http://www.airframes.org/fleet/aal
Average Age: 16.8 years. Oldest active 27 years old.

Delta Airlines: http://www.airframes.org/fleet/dal
Average Age: 16.4 Years. Oldest active aircraft 41 years old.

And I'll throw in a UK airline too

British Airways: http://www.airframes.org/fleet/baw

Average Age 13 Years. Oldest active aircraft 23 years old.

If your worried about safety, I wouldn't be. More chance you being struck by lightening 10 times in a row while talking to Aliens

[tfcrew]

  YAROSLAVL, Russia (AP) — A Russian jet carrying a top local ice hockey team crashed while taking off Wednesday in western Russia, killing 36 people and leaving one critically injured ........

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-09-07/russian-hockey-team-s-plane-crashes-into-river-43-feared-dead.html

Amazing how fast this was logged into Wiki-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Lokomotiv_Yaroslavl_plane_crash

[JR]

Rather than relying on random, ad hoc advice here, you would be better off looking at official statistics.  Do a google search on accident rates, etc.

A while back, I saw some stats that indicated many of FSU countries had airline accident rates that rivaled African countries.  Check it out.

You're still safer flying: If their accident rate is higher than the world average then their auto-accident rate will be higher. I don't care where you go, aviation is taken much more seriouly than driving.  A universal saying. "The pilot is always the first to arrive at the scene of an accident."

[JohnDearGreen]

Is it safe to use ukrainian airlines?

Must be a decent choice.  This guy (#3 richest person in Ukraine) paid Ukraine Airlines over $1 million each to fly 2 guys to Australia:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/companies/ukrainian-billionaire-sees-limited-future-in-australia/story-fn91v9q3-1226144945378