Ernest Airlines to perform flights from Kharkiv to Milan and Rome

"Kharkiv International Airport, which is part of the DCH group of Oleksandr Yaroslavsky, will open direct flights with the Italian cities of Rome and Milan next year. The long-term agreement signed by the airport with low-cost carrier Ernest Airlines provides that flights will be performed from March 21, 2019," reads the statement.

The airport's press service also added that the beginning of the airline's work in the region was discussed at a meeting between Ernest Airlines President Shadi El Tannir and Head of Kharkiv Regional State Administration Yulia Svitlychna on October 19.

"Direct flights with Rome and Milan will be a great gift for both tourists and business representatives. The Italian low-cost airline will join the ranks of airlines flying from the Kharkiv airport, which will undoubtedly contribute to expanding our route network," said Volodymyr Vasylchenko, Director General of New Systems AM, the operator of the Kharkiv airport. 

Ernest Airlines, in turn, said that Kharkiv had been chosen due to its strategic location in the densely populated eastern region of Ukraine, where there is a high demand for flights to Italy. Ukrainians living there often fly to Italy for tourism, work, to visit their relatives and friends, and many Italians are doing business in Ukraine.

The cost of tickets, including taxes and hand baggage, will begin from 45 euros. Flights from Kharkiv to Italy will be conducted on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays on the new 180-seat Airbus A320. Tickets will be on sale already next week - after October 22 - on the website flyernest.com, as well as in travel agencies and ticket offices.

Ernest Airlines was founded in 2015 by a group of Swedish and Italian investors. 

op