Ukrainian airline Windrose has entered the Israeli market: based at Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) and operating routes Rhodes, Paphos, Rome and Prague

Ukrainian airline Windrose (“Rosa Vetrov”) went through the hard years of war: closed skies, blocked aircraft, strikes by “Shaheds”. But in 2025 its Airbus A319 flies from Ben Gurion Airport (TLV). NAnews prepared a review of the company: from its founding to a new stage in Israel.

Windrose in Israel: how “Rosa Vetrov” lost aircraft because of the war and found a new chance in Tel Aviv

In the summer of 2025 Windrose Airlines made a step that many perceived as a sign: a Ukrainian Airbus is back in the sky, and even from Ben Gurion Airport (TLV). The company received on dry lease a Airbus A319 UR-WRY, built in 2002.

This was noted by Avianews on August 20, 2025.

The fuselage was provided by Lithuanian AviaAM Leasing, the engines came from Australian Smartlynx Australia. The lease term is short — only until the end of 2025. But even these months became an opportunity to strengthen in a new market.

The aircraft has a long biography: the first flight — April 30, 2002, until 2024 it flew in Italy, including in the special livery Friuli Venezia Giulia, and in 2020 it was based in Naples. In 2025 the aircraft was registered in Ukraine and transferred to Windrose.

According to Flightradar24, the Airbus A319 performs daily flights from Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) by order of Israeli airline Israir.

This became possible against the background of the withdrawal of many European carriers from the Israeli market due to security risks. Thus Windrose temporarily uses the opportunity to earn in a market where demand exceeds supply.

The main destinations of UR-WRY in August 2025 are Rhodes, Paphos, Rome and Prague, all flights are operated from the base at Ben Gurion Airport (TLV). The plane flies every day, mainly on routes lasting from two to four hours, providing intensive utilization. The geography of flights covers the Eastern Mediterranean and Central Europe, focusing primarily on tourist destinations.

“War fleet”: only two aircraft

Today the active fleet of Windrose is small. In fact, only two working aircraft remain: Airbus A319 in Israel and Embraer E190, which flies to Montenegro under contract with Air Montenegro.

The rest of the aircraft are either blocked in Ukrainian airports or destroyed during the war.

From foundation to rebranding

Windrose Airlines was founded on October 28, 2003 in Kyiv. In the first years, the company operated charter routes: Turkey, Egypt, Southern Europe. In 2006 regular flights to Moscow and Kaliningrad appeared, but it was not possible to stay on these routes.

In the 2010s Windrose became a noticeable player in the charter market. Cooperation with large tour operators provided a stable passenger flow. In 2013 the company received an IOSA certificate and permission for long-haul flights ETOPS. At the same time, long-haul A330s appeared in the fleet — on flights to Dubai, Dominican Republic and Bangkok.

In 2019 rebranding took place. In 2020 Windrose took a new step and launched domestic flights across Ukraine. For this, ATR-72s were purchased, and for the first time in the company’s history its aircraft began to connect Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro, Kharkiv and Odesa.

Closed sky after February 24

With the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine completely closed its sky. All domestic flights were stopped. Windrose aircraft were blocked in Boryspil, Odesa and other airports.

The company, however, did not leave the market. It rebuilt its strategy: part of the aircraft was leased out under ACMI, and from 2023 flights began to be operated from Poland. It was then that Windrose actually turned into a “carrier without a country,” operating wherever there was demand.

2024: new aircraft from UIA

In 2024 three aircraft of Ukraine International Airlines were officially re-registered to Windrose. These were:

• Boeing 737-800 (UR-UIA)
• Boeing 737-800 (UR-PSW)
• Embraer 190 (UR-EMC)

At the time of transfer both “Boeings” were standing in Boryspil, and the “Embraer” — in Odesa.

2025: new arrivals and tragedy in Dnipro

The year began positively for Windrose. On February 1 the company received another Embraer ERJ-190STD from UIA. On June 19 the fleet was supplemented with Airbus A319 UR-WRY, which immediately went to work in Israel.

But just two months earlier a tragedy occurred.

On the night of April 4, 2025, a terrorist strike by Russian aggressors was carried out on Dnipro. One of the drones hit a hangar at Dnipro International Airport, where Windrose was hiding its aircraft.

This was reported by the head of consulting company Friendly Avia Support, Oleksandr Lanetsky. He noted that it was about the occupiers’ strike on the night of April 4.

“One of the ‘Shaheds’ hit the hangar, which before the war was used by the aircraft maintenance division of Windrose Airlines. As a result of the hit, the hangar completely burned down, and along with it four civilian aircraft: Airbus 321, Airbus 320, ATR72. One business jet was also destroyed. The airline hid the aircraft in the hangar to somehow protect them during the war, but it did not help,” – said Lanetsky.

According to him, the total damage from the fire in the airport hangar may exceed $100 million.

Lanetsky believes that this is “the largest single loss of Ukrainian airlines” after the battles for Hostomel Airport in February-March 2022, where, let us recall, the only copy of the largest aircraft in the world, AN225 “Mriya,” was destroyed.

Russian propaganda pseudo-media, like TASS of course proclaimed that “the Russian army destroyed at least five aircraft modified for the Armed Forces of Ukraine for military purposes, including strikes on the territory of Russia, at Dnipropetrovsk Airport.”

Or RIA Novosti — “The Russian Armed Forces struck at Dnipro International Airport in Ukraine and destroyed five aircraft that were being prepared for transfer to the country’s army. Another aircraft was damaged. The source writes that a hangar of 1500 square meters completely burned down. Aircraft were being converted there for the needs of the Ukrainian Air Force.”

Owners of Windrose and the shadow of Kolomoisky

The question of the company’s owners. Windrose is associated with the business structures of the Privat group and the name of Ihor Kolomoisky, who controlled UIA.

There is no official information about the owners. In open sources the companies Rydell and Bregenzer Ltd, registered in Ukraine and Cyprus, appear. Journalists and experts believe that real control is connected with the Privat group and Ihor Kolomoisky.

There is no direct evidence, but there are indirect confirmations: the transfer of aircraft from UIA, the arrest of seven Windrose aircraft in 2024 by Ukrainian authorities, as well as the debt history of UIA.

Significance for Israel and Ukraine

Today the appearance of Windrose in Israel is read in several dimensions at once.

For Israel — these are additional flights and new destinations in conditions of supply shortage.

For Ukrainians in Israel — a symbol that business from their country survives, despite the strikes on Dnipro and the loss of the fleet.

For relations between the states — a practical link that goes beyond diplomacy.

NAnews – News of Israel emphasize: Windrose became an example of how a Ukrainian company, having lost millions and almost the entire fleet, managed to find the strength to continue working. This story shows not only commercial calculation, but also the endurance of Ukrainian business.

Windrose Airlines went from a small charter carrier to a participant in humanitarian missions and a partner of Israeli airlines. Today it has only two active aircraft, but one of them flies daily from Tel Aviv. And this is already a sign that even in conditions of war Ukrainian business continues to look for ways and find new opportunities.