The airline was established by Lebanese businessmen in 1998 and began operations in June 2000.

[1] This meant that it was banned for safety reasons from operating services of any kind within the European Union.

[2] In November 2009, the airline was allowed to resume operations with its McDonnell Douglas MD-83 aircraft by the European Commission.

[3] In 2013, UM Air was one of two Ukrainian airlines that had sanctions imposed against them by the US government.

UM's owner and Chairman Rodrigue Merhej was also personally placed under sanction.