Three years of HiSky operations - 2.5 million passengers and 28 regularly operated destinations

The airline operator HiSky marks the beginning of March as the anniversary of its first three years in the air transport market. Over these years, HiSky has established itself at the forefront of the industry in terms of both passenger numbers and the expansion of its fleet and destinations. Looking ahead, the company, which reintroduced direct flights to the USA after 20 years, is set on continuing its development trajectory with a firm strategy for market share growth through increased capabilities and route numbers.

Since its establishment in March 2021, HiSky has transported a total of 2.5 million passengers, registering a 170% increase in 2023 alone, surpassing the figures reported after the first two years of operation which totaled 900,000 passengers. The total number of flights operated, both regular and charter, stands at 20,000, accumulating over 45,000 flight hours.

In the past year, HiSky's fleet expanded with three new aircraft, now boasting a total operating capacity of eight planes and 1,500 available seats. Seven of these eight aircraft are narrow-body, single-aisle Airbus 320 family, including one A319, three A320s, and two A321 LRs manufactured in 2023, the first of their kind registered in Romania, with a non-stop flight range of up to 7,400 kilometers, the longest distance covered by an aircraft in this class. At the end of 2023, the first wide-body aircraft, a two-aisle Airbus A330-200 with a range of over 13,400 km, joined the fleet, marking another premiere, the first Airbus A330-200 to be operated under a Romanian registration. Additionally, in 2023, HiSky obtained the rights to operate regular flights to the United States, becoming the sole Romanian company to hold both a Foreign Air Carrier Certificate and the capability for non-stop transatlantic flights. The first flights to New York's JFK airport are scheduled to start on June 7th this year.

"We embarked on this journey three years ago with a clear direction to offer an alternative to the existing market. We followed a balanced strategy of sustained development and services focused on passenger needs, and today's results show that our choice was correct. On one hand, we managed to address some unmet market needs, such as non-stop flights to the USA, Asia, and Africa, directly from Romania and the Republic of Moldova, and a range of underserved European destinations. On the other hand, our focus was not only on market share but, more importantly, on building credibility, especially as our development coincided with a period of high passenger distrust in airlines. Hence, the results we report today reflect a mix of thorough lessons learned, bold choices, and maximum attention to our passengers' constant feedback," stated Iulian Scorpan, CEO of HiSky.

As a regular flight operator, HiSky has, after its first three years, established a portfolio of 28 total routes, operating from its three bases in Bucharest, Cluj Napoca, and Chișinău, as well as from airports in Timișoara, Iași, and Baia Mare. Regarding charter flights, the company has maintained its position as the primary provider for the markets in Romania and the Republic of Moldova, with over 8,000 flights operated in partnership with leading travel agencies to the most popular holiday destinations. With its expanded capability, destinations such as Krabi, Thailand, the Maldives, Zanzibar, or Mombasa have become accessible via direct flights from Romania.

In 2023, HiSky climbed to the fourth position in the ranking of the largest operators at Romanian airports, following the national carrier and the two major low-cost operators. For its fourth year, HiSky plans to consolidate its market position and its first transatlantic route, as well as to exploit its long-haul flight operating capability by launching new regular flights to distant destinations.