Bees Airlines: Former Ukrainian Low-Cost Airline Reborns in Romania, Launches Flights to Tel Aviv

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Bees Airline was initially a Ukrainian low-cost airline based at Kyiv-Zhuliany Airport. The company was founded in 2019 and quickly entered the Ukrainian aviation market, offering low-cost flights and popular tourist destinations.

The first Bees Airline aircraft were registered in the State Register of Civil Aircraft of Ukraine on February 22, 2021, and on March 13, 2021, the airline received its air operator certificate from the State Aviation Service of Ukraine. The company's first commercial flight took place on March 18, 2021 – it was carried out to Egypt.

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However, after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the company's activities were abruptly suspended.

Two weeks before the war began, the lessor demanded that Bees Airline return all four Boeing 737-800 aircraft to France, which led to serious consequences for the company. Without a fleet and in the context of an ongoing military conflict, the company was unable to operate its flights, and in August 2022, the State Aviation Service of Ukraine revoked Bees Airline's air operator certificate, effectively stopping its operations in Ukraine.

Against this backdrop, a new airline with an almost identical name has emerged in Romania: Bees Airlinesdiffering from the Ukrainian one by only one letter in the name. Interestingly, the new Romanian company uses a corporate style and website very similar to those of the Ukrainian Bees Airline.

This raised questions about a possible connection between the two companies, especially given that the Ukrainian company was essentially defunct. Forbes sent a request to the CEO of Ukraine's Bees Airline, Yevgeny Khainatsky, and representatives of the Romanian carrier to clarify the connection, but had not yet received a response at the time of publication.

According to Romanian media, the new Bees Airlines in Romania was founded by a Hungarian businessman from Ukraine, Andriy Baganich, and Victor Antohe, former director of the Romanian airline TAROM, was appointed CEO. Despite the obvious parallels with the Ukrainian brand, representatives of the Romanian company insist that their enterprise is 100% Romanian, not related to the Ukrainian Bees Airline. They admit that the brand was acquired, but emphasize that the company itself is entirely Romanian and focused on international flights.

The new Romanian Bees Airlines has already started operations in March 2024, operating charter flights, and since August of the same year it has started regular flights. The company plans to significantly expand its route network, including flights from Bucharest and Suceava to Tel Avivas well as to cities such as Prague, Baden-Baden and Verona. In addition, the airline plans to operate flights between Chisinau and Verona, as well as between Suceava and Baden-Baden.

The return of the Bees Airlines brand in Romania, amid the ongoing war in Ukraine and the loss of the Ukrainian airline, demonstrates how businesses are adapting to changing conditions. Using a recognizable name helps attract attention, but can also cause confusion among customers who remember the Ukrainian company’s problems.

Romania's new Bees Airlines plans to fly to Tel Aviv, signaling its ambition to carve out a niche in the international market and rebuild aviation links. In the context of war and instability in Ukraine, it could also be a sign of hope for the restoration and development of regional travel.

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