Ireland’s Ryanair, Europe’s largest budget airline, announced a commitment to resume flights to/from Ukraine at low fares within 8 weeks of the opening of Ukrainian airspace and plans to deploy up to 30 new Boeing 737 MAXs to Kiev, Lviv and Odessa at a cost of over $3 billion.
“Ryanair was Ukraine’s second largest airline until Russia’s illegal invasion in February 2022. As soon as the skies over Ukraine are reopened to commercial aviation, Ryanair will return to Ukraine, connecting Ukraine’s main airports to more than 20 EU capitals,” a Ryanair press release quoted the airline’s chief executive Michael O’Leary as saying following his visit to Kiev on Thursday.
It is indicated that after the end of hostilities and as soon as the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) announces the safety of flights from/to Ukraine, the airline is ready to operate up to 600 flights per week. In addition, Ryanair plans to open daily flights between Kiev, Lviv and Odessa as soon as the airports are ready.
Executive Director of Ryanair reminded that before the war, the airline served airports in Kharkiv and Kherson and intends to return to them as soon as their infrastructure is restored after the end of hostilities.
It is noted that the airline plans to reach more than 5 million passenger seats on its flights from/to Ukraine in the first 12 months of operation and intends to grow that number to 10 million seats within five years.
“The fastest way to reshape and rebuild the Ukrainian economy is through low-cost air travel. Ryanair intends to invest heavily in Ukraine, leading the aviation recovery. In particular, (the airline) will invest up to $3 billion by deploying up to 30 new Boeing MAX airplanes at Ukraine’s three main airports in Kiev, Lviv and Odessa,” said O’Leary.
Ryanair also recalled that it has employed hundreds of Ukrainian pilots, cabin crew and IT specialists and is ready to create thousands of new jobs for Ukrainians in aviation immediately after the end of the war.
“Ukraine is a country of 40 million people, many of whom have been scattered across Europe as a result of Russia’s illegal invasion. We look forward to reuniting these families, with Ryanair’s affordable fares, as soon as it is safe to do so. Ryanair’s low fares will be critical to Ukraine’s economic recovery,” O’Leary said.
During his visit to Kiev on Thursday, he met with Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Community Development, Territories and Infrastructure of Ukraine Oleksandr Kubrakov, as well as representatives of airports in Kiev, Lviv and Odessa.
Kubrakov emphasized that maintaining the performance of aviation infrastructure and the professional qualifications of personnel remains a vital task in war conditions.
“Meanwhile, the resumption of flights will be possible as soon as the security situation allows. However, we are already working on solutions and investment plans that will allow us to get airplanes in the air quickly,” he said, expressing gratitude for specific proposals and solutions from Ryanair, “Ukraine’s faithful partner.”
Boryspil Airport CEO Oleksiy Dubrevskiy, who was recently approved by the government in this position, added that the visit of Ryanair’s top management to Boryspil Airport is a strong signal that Europe’s largest airline sees huge potential in the Ukrainian air transportation market.
“I firmly believe that Boryspil airport will remain the main air gateway for our citizens to return to Ukraine and will continue to play a leading role in the recovery of the Ukrainian economy,” Dubrevskyy said.
Three weeks before the full-scale invasion, O’Leary announced plans for a major expansion into Ukraine “if Russia does not attack” ahead of the Open Skies agreement with the EU coming into force. It was about the deployment of 15-20 airplanes in the country in five airports of the country.
In addition, Ryanair had time to announce 13 new routes from Ukraine in the summer schedule of 2022, under which the airline planned to fly from Ukraine on a total of 90 routes.
As reported, Ukraine completely closed its airspace to civilian aircraft on February 24, 2022.
In April this year, O’Leary said Ryanair was ready to quickly resume operations in Ukraine when it was safe to fly again, having opened 30 routes and built several bases in a year. “We could be flying there (to Ukraine) in about two weeks. We are actively looking for ways and looking for where we can get back to Ukraine,” O’Leary said at the time. He specified that the company employs about 60 Ukrainian pilots and about 80 crew members, who are mostly stationed at Ryanair bases in Poland waiting for the market to open.
