Plans to resume flights to Ukraine: which companies have shown interest.

Several airlines have shown interest in resuming flights to Ukraine, contingent upon improvements in safety and insurance conditions. Crispin Ellison, a senior partner at the insurance brokerage Marsh McLennan, stated earlier that there are 5-6 airlines keen to start operations from January 2025. He also noted that this will depend on the deployment of air defense systems and similar factors. UNN reports on which companies have already expressed their readiness to resume flights.

AirBaltic

The Latvian airline AirBaltic plans to redirect resources from other routes to Ukraine when it becomes safe. AirBaltic's CEO, Martin Gauss, mentioned that the airline is prepared to conduct night flights if safety conditions allow, and is even willing to operate without passengers to assess the situation. Resuming flights to Ukraine will be a significant step for the company, as it will enable more direct routes south to destinations like Dubai and Greece.

Additionally, Ryanair has pledged to base 30 aircraft in Ukraine after the war ends to assist in the recovery of the country's aviation industry.

SkyUp Airlines

The company responded to a statement from a risk management expert who indicated that air travel could resume by February 2025. The company’s press service emphasized that safety guarantees, insurance, and a clear understanding of responsibility are essential for launching flights.

"Safety is an unconditional priority. Therefore, until there is safe airspace, there will be no flights," - noted the press service.

Ryanair

Ryanair's CEO Michael O'Leary mentioned back in 2023 that the Irish low-cost airline Ryanair was considering the possibility of resuming a limited number of flights to Ukraine, provided agreements for partial airspace opening are reached.

"We operate in and out of Israel. We fly to Tel Aviv airport. From time to time, explosions are heard from the West Bank, and Hamas launches rockets. So, anything is possible. But we need to convince European security authorities that flying will be safe," - O'Leary stated in 2023.

Supernova Airlines

Supernova Airlines, a subsidiary of the NOVA group (owner of "Nova Poshta"), has been granted permission to operate regular international flights from Kyiv and Lviv starting November 1. The relevant information has been sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine for processing the appointments.

Currently, no public announcements have been made by airlines regarding the resumption of flights.

Restrictions on Opening Airspace

Deputy Minister for Community and Territorial Development Timur Tkachenko noted that while government authorities are considering the possibility of partially opening Ukraine's airspace, it remains unlikely in the short term. Special attention is being given to the potential restoration of operations at the airports in Boryspil and Lviv, which are crucial for passenger transport. Tkachenko also emphasized that comparing Ukraine's situation with Israel, where an effective air defense system is in place, is not entirely accurate, as Ukraine has not yet reached the necessary level of defense. Therefore, in his opinion, it is premature to discuss the partial opening of airspace.

Previously

The Ministry for Community and Territorial Development shared that Ukraine presented a roadmap for opening airspace under martial law, outlining a step-by-step plan and requirements for the partial opening of airspace.