Ukrainian-Mediterranean Airlines (also known as UM Air) (), Ukrayinsʹko-seredzemnomorsʹki avialiniyi, was an airline based in Kyiv, Ukraine. It ceased operations in 2018.
History The airline was established by Lebanese businessmen in 1998 and began operations in June 2000. It was founded as an open-end joint-stock company. In 2003 UM Air had over 500 employees and carried 210,000 passengers.
In 2007, the Ukrainian Air Administration refused to renew UM Air's license because of safety concerns. In September 2007 the European Commission banned Ukrainian-Mediterranean Airlines from operating in the airspace over the European Union, citing safety issues.Black list of banned airlines: the European Commission adopts new measures. Press Release, 11 September 2007 This meant that it was banned for safety reasons from operating services of any kind within the European Union.List of banned E.U. air carriers In November 2009, the airline was allowed to resume operations with its McDonnell Douglas MD-83 aircraft by the European Commission.Three Ukrainian airlines regain right to conduct flights to EU, Kyiv Post (27 November 2009)
In 2013, UM Air was one of two Ukrainian airlines that had sanctions imposed against them by the US government. UM Air was accused of supplying British Aerospace BAe 146 series aircraft to Iranian airline Mahan Air and of training Mahan Air pilots and maintenance technicians. Mahan Air was itself already under sanction by the US government. UM's owner and Chairman Rodrigue Merhej was also personally placed under sanction.
Destinations UM Air served the following scheduled destinations as of December 2017:umair.com.ua retrieved 21 June 2018
Iran Tehran - Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport Jordan Amman - Queen Alia International Airport Lebanon Beirut - Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport Ukraine Kyiv - Kyiv International Airport (Zhuliany) base
Fleet Current fleet
The UM Air fleet consisted of the following aircraft (as of September 2016): + UM Air fleetAircraftIn FleetOrdersPassengersNotesMcDonnell Douglas MD-831—172StoredTotal1—
Previously operated
Antonov An-24RV Tupolev Tu-134A Tupolev Tu-154B2 Yakovlev Yak-42D
Accidents and incidents On 26 May 2003, a UM Yakovlev Yak-42D operating as Ukrainian-Mediterranean Airlines Flight 4230 crashed near Maçka, Trabzon (Turkey) while carrying 62 Spanish troops from Afghanistan to Zaragoza Air Base. All 75 on board died.
References
External links
Official website