What Supernova Airlines does

Supernova Airlines LLC is a Ukrainian cargo air carrier founded on October 1, 2021, and headquartered in Kyiv at Stolychne highway 103. It is part of NOVA Group — described by the company as the largest Ukrainian private express and logistics operator with over 20 years of operating history — and was established specifically to serve the logistics and parcel-delivery needs of NOVA Group affiliates including Nova Post (domestic express) and Nova Global (international express delivery). The company was the first Ukrainian carrier to receive an Air Operator Certificate (AOC UA 062) under wartime conditions on January 6, 2023, after the closure of Ukrainian airspace following Russia's February 24, 2022 invasion; consequently all commercial flights operate from EU airports with road transport connecting cargo into Ukraine.

The company's core product is on-demand and, increasingly, scheduled cargo air transportation. Its primary fleet asset is a single Boeing 737-800BDSF freighter (registration UR-NPA, year of manufacture 2007, MTOW 79,015 kg, maximum revenue payload 23,000 kg, maximum volume 140 m³), introduced into Operations Specifications in September 2024 and operated with EASA Part-TCO authorization without limitations as of October 2024 and FAA FAR129 authorization from December 18, 2024. Earlier operations used leased Antonov 26 capacity and partner-operated ATR 72 capacity via Latvian carrier RAF-Avia on the Riga-Rzeszów route. Supporting technology includes a web-based charter request system (capturing cargo weight, volume, and value) and an online cargo tracking portal powered by third-party aviation software platform Awery.

The business model is a captive B2B charter carrier with gradual third-party commercialization. Revenue is generated via quote-based cargo charter fees paid per flight (transaction/take-rate model), with no publicly disclosed rate cards; pricing is derived from submitted cargo weight (kg), volume (m³), and declared value (USD) on the website form. The customer base is effectively NOVA Group internal logistics demand today, with explicit corporate intent to grow third-party cargo volumes. Go-to-market is direct B2B sales via the website charter request funnel and a LinkedIn corporate presence, supported by news/blog updates on regulatory milestones. Markets served as of late 2024 include Hungary, Moldova, Latvia, and Poland (EU hubs adjacent to Ukraine), with United States operations pending the December 2024 FAR129 grant.

Name

Supernova Airlines

Legal name

SUPERNOVA AIRLINES LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

Website

https://supernova.aero

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Supernova Airlines is a Ukrainian cargo air carrier founded in 2021 within NOVA Group. It operates a Boeing 737-800BDSF freighter on charter and scheduled cargo flights from EU hubs into Ukraine, primarily serving Nova Post and Nova Global's express logistics network, with EASA and FAA certifications enabling future U.S. expansion.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Air Cargo Services

NAICS

Air Transportation (481), Nonscheduled Air Transportation (4812)

SIC

Air Transportation, Scheduled (4512), Air Courier Services (4513)

akta.pro primary industry

Heavy-Lift / Outsize Air Cargo Carriers (TLADAAAF)

Keywords

• Air cargo transportation
• Freight charter services
• Cargo airline operations
• Express logistics aviation
• Dedicated freighter services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kyiv

HQ country

Ukraine

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Cargo Charter Services: The company generates revenue through cargo charter flights using its Boeing 737-800 freighter aircraft. Services are offered to NOVA group companies and third-party customers requiring cargo air transportation. Pricing is quote-based depending on route, cargo weight, and volume.
2. Third-party Cargo Transportation: Gradual development of cargo transportation segment for third-party companies alongside NOVA group's internal logistics needs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Supernova Airlines is a dedicated cargo air carrier operating charter and scheduled freighter services using Boeing 737-800BDSF aircraft (23,000 kg payload, 140 m³ volume) primarily serving NOVA Group's express logistics network while progressively offering third-party cargo charter transportation. The airline operates from EU airports due to closed Ukrainian airspace, connecting Ukraine-related logistics with EU and US destinations via on-demand charter and planned scheduled cargo operations.

Product overview

Supernova Airlines is a dedicated cargo air carrier and part of NOVA group of companies (Ukraine's largest private express and logistics operator). The company operates a fleet of freighter aircraft including Boeing 737-800BDSF (primary) and previously Antonov 26 aircraft, offering two core services: cargo charter operations for third-party companies and scheduled cargo flights. The product portfolio includes Cargo Charter Services and Scheduled Cargo Operations as primary offerings, supported by fleet aircraft (Boeing 737-800BDSF freighter and Antonov 26), a customer-facing Cargo Tracking system, and a Charter Request system for booking flights. The airline connects domestic Ukrainian logistics needs with US and China markets, currently operating from EU airports due to Ukrainian airspace closure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cargo Charter Services On-demand cargo air transportation services for third-party companies and NOVA Group, utilizing Boeing 737-800BDSF freighter aircraft. Operates charter flights to EU, USA, and other destinations with a maximum revenue payload of 23,000 kg and volume of 140 m³ per aircraft.
• Scheduled Cargo Operations Regular cargo flight services on designated routes connecting Ukraine-adjacent regions with international destinations, planned for EU and USA markets. Designed to provide predictable, recurring cargo capacity for shippers and logistics partners.

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NOVA GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2021Supernova Airlines is part of NOVA group of companies - the biggest Ukrainian private express and logistic operator. Supernova was founded as a dedicated cargo air carrier serving NOVA group's own business and growth needs. NOVA group provides the cargo volume and distribution network that forms the core business rationale for the airline.
• Nova GlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNova Global (NOVA POSHTA GLOBAL LLC) is the contracting entity for international express delivery services. Commissioned Supernova's first charter cargo flight on November 10, 2024 from Budapest to Chisinau.
• RAF-AviaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLatvian airline partner that cooperated with Supernova for the first flight on the Riga-Rzeszów-Riga route in May 2023. Operation performed on an ATR 72 aircraft belonging to RAF-Avia.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• FedEx: Global integrator operating a large fleet of dedicated freighters. Competes for international express cargo demand and sets the benchmark Supernova's parent NOVA must match on cross-border service levels.
• UPS: Global integrator with extensive air-cargo operations and a strong Europe–US corridor presence. Overlaps with Supernova's planned US route ambitions and competes for time-sensitive international freight.
• Amazon Air: Operates a large dedicated freighter network supporting e-commerce fulfillment. Comparable as a captive air-cargo operator similar in concept to Supernova's NOVA-owned model, though at vastly greater scale.
• DHL Aviation: Global integrator with a major air-cargo network across Europe, the Americas, and Asia. Competes for the same cross-border express and parcel air-freight demand that Supernova serves for NOVA's parcels.

Direct peers

• Cargolux: Luxembourg-based all-cargo airline operating Boeing 747 freighters globally. Closest European full-scale cargo peer, competing for similar international air-freight tenders and serving overlapping Europe–Asia/Americas corridors.
• Antonov Airlines: Ukrainian-headquartered cargo carrier specializing in outsized and heavy-lift air freight. Direct competitor in the Ukrainian air-cargo space and the most relevant comparable for Supernova's home market and capabilities.
• ASL Airlines: European cargo and passenger carrier operating Boeing 737 freighters across intra-Europe and transatlantic routes. Direct comparable on fleet type (737 freighter) and on-demand charter cargo business model.
• RAF-Avia: Latvian cargo and charter airline that already partnered with Supernova on its first commercial Riga–Rzeszów flight. A direct regional peer in Baltic/Eastern European charter cargo.

Regional players

• SkyUp Airlines: Ukrainian airline that has also adapted operations to wartime constraints. Regional peer for understanding Ukrainian aviation operating dynamics, though focused on passenger rather than cargo.
• Windrose Airlines: Ukrainian airline also navigating closed-airspace operations from EU bases. Relevant regional comparison for the structural challenges of running a Ukrainian-licensed carrier during the war.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/supernova-airlines

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Supernova Airlines