Ukrainian Armed Forces doubt resumption of air travel in Ukraine (video)
According to Yuriy Ihnat, a spokesman for the Armed Forces Command, all airfields in Ukraine are currently used for military purposes, which raises concerns about flight safety in such conditions.
Ireland’s Ryanair plans to consider resuming flights to Ukraine by the end of 2023, but this depends on the successful outcome of negotiations with the Ukrainian authorities on partial opening of airspace for airlines. Ukraine believes that during active hostilities it is unlikely that civil aviation will be able to resume its full-fledged operation. Yuriy Ihnat, a spokesman for the Air Force of Ukraine, said this on the air of a nationwide telethon.
According to him, the official statements appeared in connection with the possibility of resuming Ryanair flights to Ukraine by the end of 2023, assuming successful negotiations on partial opening of the airspace. However, the war situation raises questions about flight safety in such conditions.
Ihnat added that the grain corridor that existed before was closed by Russia, which adds to the difficulties in negotiating possible humanitarian air routes. Currently, all airfields in Ukraine are used for military purposes, and this is a serious obstacle for civil aviation.
“Today all airfields in Ukraine, we have dozens of airfields for various purposes, are operational. We are at war and martial law. You know this very well. I think civilian companies that want to work in Ukraine are really pleased that despite this situation, there are those willing to conquer the Ukrainian aviation market. The question of peacetime is how we will win, how we will live in peace, and how we will invite everyone who wants to be in the market to the Ukrainian state,” he said.
In April 2023, it was reported that Ryanair plans to return to Ukraine after the war. Ryanair intends to establish 30 routes in Ukraine and set up 12 bases within 12 months of its return.
It also became known that Ryanair may resume flights from Kyiv and Lviv by the end of the year. Ryanair’s CEO called for an optimistic outlook on the situation and cited Israel as an example, where airlines continue to operate despite enemy missile launches.
