PHOTOS: Windrose touches down in Skopje

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Ukrainian carrier Windrose Airlines launched flights between Kiev and Skopje yesterday, connecting the two cities with a nonstop air service for the first time. The flights will run twice per week with the 49-seat Embraer E145 jet, operated under the Dniproavia brand which has been merged into Windrose. The inaugural flight from the Ukrainian capital was full. Commenting on the launch, the General Manager of operator TAV Macedonia, Metin Batak, said, “As TAV, we are very happy and proud that we’ve welcomed the first Windrose flight from Kiev at Skopje International Airport, celebrating the launch of this new scheduled route, which is not just the first positive step towards the recovery of Macedonian air traffic amid the Covid-19 pandemic, but also a historic milestone for Macedonian aviation, since Macedonia and Ukraine are connected by air for the first time. The entrance of Windrose Airlines onto the Macedonian market is also extremely important in these difficult times for aviation, since it shows how the crisis shifted route networks and airline expansion plans. We hope that travellers from both Macedonia and neighbouring countries will find Kiev attractive as a new destination and will seize the opportunity to visit this beautiful city”. Windrose Airlines' CEO, Volodymyr Kamenchuk, noted, “Windrose Airlines hopes that the launch of this new service will help strengthen tourism and business tiies between the two countries. We also believe that, despite the ongoing difficulties due to the pandemic, tourists will be interested in this brand new destination. So, we wish all of us success in this challenge. We are sincerely grateful for all the support from the North Macedonian side, air transport authorities, Skopje Airport and the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of North Macedonia”.