Ukraine International to New York: Over twelve hours in a Boeing 737

Ukraine International Airlines is restarting flights to New York. Instead of Boeing 777 and 767, it relies on Boeing 737s, which have to make a stopover on the route.

Since the end of the lockdown, airlines have struggled on many routes with low loads. Where once very large planes had to be used, smaller ones are sufficient. Ukraine International Airlines is taking a radical step in this direction.

The Ukrainian airline will again operate two weekly flights from Kiev to New York John F. Kennedy from December. Instead of flying the long-haul jets Boeing 767 and 777 as before the Corona crisis, Boeing 737s are now used, like the portal Avianews writes. Because the short- and medium-haul plane does not have enough range for the entire route, a refueling stop in the Icelandic Keflavik is necessary on every flight.

Not a real business class

The stopover will take one hour. For the entire outward flight from Kiev to New York, Ukraine International states a flight time of a little over 12.5 hours. The return flight including a stopover will take 11.5 hours. For customers, the change from large-fuselage to narrow-fuselage aircraft means a downgrade.

Business class seats like those in the Boeing 767 and 777 do not exist in the Boeing 737-900. However, with a seat pitch of 80 centimeters, it is quite spacious. If you book tickets in this price range, you can take an economy seat with a free side chair. There is also no internet access or an entertainment system on board. Due to the slight detour and the refueling stops, the flight time in both directions increases by more than two hours.

Flight from Kiev to New York with Boeing 737: 12.5 hours flight time Image: Ukraine International

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