Flights between Kyiv and Crimea

[seek77]

Anyone have experience flying between Kyiv and Crimea?  Are flights only into Simferopol or is is possible to fly directly in Sevastopol?

I have read horror stories about old AN and YAK type of planes used within Ukraine.  Any way to avoid these type of planes?  Any airlines known to fly particular types of planes etc.?  Is there really any choice of airlines and airplanes?

Thanks for info.

[Carlushika]

I don't think anyone has reported going that route flying Wizz Air. You can be sure their planes are up to scratch.

http://wizzair.com/default.asp?slid=clear&language=EN



Wizz Air has a young, single type Airbus A320 fleet, with average age of less than 3 years. All 19 aircrafts are powered by International Aero Engine’s V-2500 engines and equipped with 180 comfortable leather seats. These new aircrafts represent the latest technology, which helps to keep our operational cost down.

[SteveH]

Yes,Public Flights are Only into Simferopol,
Takes about 40 Minutes from Take-off to Landing and Then You Trundle along the Runway for Miles until You reach the Small Terminal.
It has 2 Terminals.
Most Reputable Airlines tell You what type of Airplane You travel on.
Usually it will be a Quality Airbus,Avoid the Tuplov-Tipover`s !!
Just Like Borispol,there will be a Heard of Taxi Driver`s wanting your Business,Airport is a Few miles from City Centre and Railway Station.
Try Wizz Air as Carl says or these Websites.

http://www.ukraine-international.com/eng/uk.html

http://www.kiyavia.com/eng/company/

http://www.pilot.ua/ln/en/

http://www.aerosvit.ua/eng

[Never2old4that]

The two of us went to Simferopol from Boryspil in June this year. I booked online with Aerosvit and we had a nervous outward and return in a really old Yak 42. The flights were OK - as in timekeeping, but the planes put the sh*its up you. The airline wasn't Areosvit, but some cr*p name like Dumassaero (I'm not kidding !).

A colleague said she went in a B737 on the same route; have you tried Dnieproavia ? They seem to have a more modern fleet. 

Yes, the taxying from runway to terminal at Sim takes forever (and vv) - like that outpost runway at Schipol.

How to avoid the rip-off taxi guys at Simferopol ? Well, we went to the kiosk in the terminal and asked the lady for a local taxi number. We rang them & they (he) came to us from the city centre. We went all the way with him to Yalta for GBP20 !!! And he came and picked us up and took us back to Sim airport for GBP30 two days later. It was a good 2 hour ride each way.

Hope that helps.

[seek77]

Thanks to all who offered info.

I booked with Wizz Air which has flights one half the price of all  other airlines that I could get info on.  The price would have been only one third the price of others, but Wizz Air charges even for the first bag checked and charges for use of credit card.  Maybe the other local carriers would have had these charges also . . . just don't know.  Anyway Wizz Air prices will go up sometime, I presume, as their currently low prices are noted as PROMO fares.

[seek77]

How to avoid the rip-off taxi guys at Simferopol ? Well, we went to the kiosk in the terminal and asked the lady for a local taxi number. We rang them & they (he) came to us from the city centre. We went all the way with him to Yalta for GBP20 !!! And he came and picked us up and took us back to Sim airport for GBP30 two days later. It was a good 2 hour ride each way.

Hope that helps.

- - - - - -  --

Great info Never2Old

Did you stay at an apartment or at a hotel in Yalta?

What contact info can you provide?  Thanks

Do you remember the name of the taxi company?

[Nina T]

I have just booked tickets with WizzAir to fly to Simferopol for a weekend in the beginning of November. With taxes, credit card charges etc, they were 550 UAH for two! I will report back if they were any good.

[P-N]

I have just booked tickets with WizzAir to fly to Simferopol for a weekend in the beginning of November. With taxes, credit card charges etc, they were 550 UAH for two! I will report back if they were any good.

I have flown Wizz, Odessa to Kyiv and back before - no complaints. 

[Never2old4that]

How to avoid the rip-off taxi guys at Simferopol ? Well, we went to the kiosk in the terminal and asked the lady for a local taxi number. We rang them & they (he) came to us from the city centre. We went all the way with him to Yalta for GBP20 !!! And he came and picked us up and took us back to Sim airport for GBP30 two days later. It was a good 2 hour ride each way.

Hope that helps.

- - - - - -  --

Great info Never2Old

Did you stay at an apartment or at a hotel in Yalta?

What contact info can you provide?  Thanks

Do you remember the name of the taxi company?

Regret haven't got the taxi number. Just go into the terminal and ask the lady in the little bar, or the little shop (my friend did this - I didn't see where she went exactly) for a taxi number.
Hotel ? We stayed in the Bristol www.hotel-bristol.com.ua tel 0654 27 16 03 or 27 16 16. It's Ok and near the shops and the harbour with good views from the higher bedrooms of the sea & harbour. Food fine (breakfast).

Hope that's OK.

[seek77]

Just a follow-up note here.

I completed the round trip flight Kyiv - Simferopol - Kyiv on  Wizz Air.

Great flight, no problems.  New Airbus 320 as advertised.

Nice friendly crew.

Also, was lucky with the weather in Yalta for the 7 days. 
Each day, temps in upper 60s F and no rain.

[Nina T]

Also just got back from Yalta.
Flew with Wizz Air and it was fine. New planes, friendly, although somewhat very young crew.
The taxi drive from the airport to Yalta: UAH200 from the airport and UAH250 on the way back.
We stayed in Bristol and also enjoyed it. Great value for money.

[Carlushika]

Great! Just like Nik reported on the now ceased until next year Odessa - Kyiv route. I especially liked the "New planes, friendly, although somewhat very young crew" which does go a long way to throwing out SilverBullet's scaremongering statement that cheap flights use old, dangerous aeroplanes.

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