Ukraine Starts Negotiations With US and EU Authorities to Resume International Flights

Despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the country has been in official negotiations with international regulators regarding the possibility of resuming international flights. Commercial flights in Ukraine have remained suspended since Russia invaded the country in February 2022.

Resumption of Flights

Commercial flights in Ukraine, both domestic and international, have been suspended for the better part of two years now. This suspension went into effect shortly after the Russian invasion of the country on February 24, 2022. However, Ukrainian officials have initiated negotiations with American and other European regulators to discuss the possibility of resuming international flights during a state of war.

Oleksandr Kubrakov, the Deputy Prime Minister for the Restoration of Ukraine and Minister for Communities, Territories, and Infrastructure Development, noted the following about this move in an interview with RBC:

"It is impossible to operate international flights without the approval of two regulators - European and American - that's how it works. The Ukrainian side has already conveyed its vision to the regulators on how the market will operate under the conditions of martial law, its risk assessments, approaches, and algorithms."

Kubrakov did not specify which Ukrainian airports were being considered for resuming flights. However, he commented that there are various possibilities for the cards, but real progress can only be made once the regulators hear the official word. Furthermore, Kubrakov added that "various" European airlines are interested in reopening Ukraine's airspace and airports.

This includes European low-cost giant Ryanair, which has reportedly submitted dozens of applications to resume flights to Ukrainian airports. If international flights to Ukraine are approved, Ryanair would be among the first carriers to capture the entire market. Before the suspension in 2022, Ryanair operated 33 routes from one Ukrainian airport alone. That was Ukraine's biggest and busiest airport: Kiev-Boryspil (KBP). These were all international routes to countries such as the United Kingdom, Italy, Austria, Germany, Greece, Lithuania, Poland, Spain, and Slovakia.

According to Kubrakov, negotiations are also underway with three Ukrainian airlines. While not specified, four main Ukrainian carriers were operating at the time of the invasion. These were Ukraine International Airlines, Azur Air Ukraine (now known as Skyline Express Airlines), SkyUp, and Windrose Airlines. Kubrakov noted that these Ukrainian carriers are understandably eager to resume operations as their home country has lacked any notable commercial air links for two years.

Is Resuming Flights Likely?

As reported by the Kyiv Post, aviation expert Bohdan Dolince noted the following hurdle affecting air travel resuming in Ukraine:

"Ukraine closed its airspace in 2022, following international law. Both EASA and the FAA issued directives to airlines under their jurisdiction, resulting in a ban on flights to Ukraine. Even if Ukraine were to lift its ban, without corresponding action from EASA and FAA, American and European carriers wouldn't be able to resume flights."

Flights to Ukraine will resume if the conditions show it is safe to fly there. This would, in turn, prompt international regulators such as the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to lift the ban or introduce special protocols. Regulators may also require specific steps before flights resume. These relate to the readiness of infrastructure and personnel availability at Ukrainian airports.

If Ukrainian airports, such as Boryspil, receive the proper restoration and staff mobilization, they will be ready to start welcoming flights again. Overall, initiating negotiations between Ukraine and international entities shows a significant likelihood of flights resuming in the coming months.